Industry News
Antonov plc reports “precipitous” Toyota patent suit in Japan while both companies await German court’s judgmement
23rd March 2006
Antonov plc, the automotive technology company suing Toyota in Gemany for hybrid transmission design patent infringement, reports it has just discovered that on 15 February Toyota initiated a law suit in Japan challenging the validity of one of Antonov’s Japanese patents JP 2894760, which Antonov says is fundamental to hybrid vehicle developments.
The company says its Japanese patent is the direct counterpart to Antonov’s European patent EP 0414782; a patent which the company alleges Toyota has infringed.
Antonov believes that Toyota's ‘hard-line’ action in Japan indicates its apparent lack of confidence about to winning the German court judgement expected in August this year and that Toyota is attempting to force Antonov to negotiate a settlement under the threat of significant costs incurred via the courts in Japan.
Antonov says it will defend its Japanese patent fully and has in place a ‘put and call’ option to the value of €2 million to underwrite the necessary defence to Toyota’s aggressive action, with additional funding facilities available if required.
Antonov says it has already rejected an ‘unrealistically low’ offer from Toyota to settle, forcing the company to seek compensation through the German court system.
Antonov chief executive John Moore said: "Toyota must be made aware that its recent aggressive strategy will not intimidate Antonov in its defence of its patents. However, we are prepared to be reasonable and co-operate with Toyota on realistic terms … we would not have taken legal action against Toyota unless we were confident that we had a strong case.”
Over the past 15 years, Antonov icences have been granted to companies such as Honda. Antonov’s patents are filed in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Japan. The company filed its action against Toyota in April 2005 at the patent court in Düsseldorf alleging infringement of its patents by the driveline of the Toyota Prius and Lexus RX400h.
(www.antonov-transmission.com)
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