The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Nov. 2008. Photo credit: BLOOMBERG <\/p>\n
The International Trade Commission this week launched an investigation into a patent infringement complaint against Ford Motor Co. that could prevent the automakers Mexico-built hybrid electric cars from entering the U.S. <\/p>\n
Maryland hybrid technology company Paice, along with the Abell Foundation, allege Ford is importing certain hybrid electric vehicles and components that infringe on its own patents, a violation of the 1930 Tariff Act. <\/p>\n
The company says it worked with Ford from 1999-2004 to provide detailed modeling and component design, but that the automaker eventually declined to license Paices technology. <\/p>\n
We trusted Ford, Paice CEO Robert Oswald said in a statement. Our engineers spent years sharing technical details about our patented hybrid technology with Ford in good faith -- that faith was misplaced. <\/p>\n
Paice has requested that the ITC issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders against electric hybrids -- such as the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ -- that are built in Mexico and sold in the U.S. <\/p>\n
Ford, in a statement, called Paices allegations unsubstantiated and vowed to continue to vigorously defend itself from them. <\/p>\n
The ITC will assign the case to one of its administrative law judges, who will determine whether or not Ford violated section 337 of the Tariff Act. <\/p>\n
The USITC will make a final determination in the investigation at the earliest practicable time, the agency said in a statement. <\/p>\n
The ITC investigation is the latest chapter in a years-long dispute between the two companies. Paice in 2014 filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Ford, which was deemed invalid in court. Two appeals courts have since upheld the original ruling, so the company is attempting to get a favorable decision through a different avenue the ITC. <\/p>\n
Paice has filed similar lawsuits against a host of other automakers, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai and Kia. All cases have been settled, according to Nathanael Adamson, Paices executive vice president. <\/p>\n
All were trying to do is get the auto companies to realize we own this technology, he told Automotive News. <\/p>\n
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Ford faces another legal challenge over hybrid technology patent - Automotive News (subscription) (blog)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Nov. 2008 Continue reading