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Toyota Prius Under Fire For Patent Infringement

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the not-so-fast dept.

tekiegreg writes "According to Auto Service World, Toyota (and possibly other hybrid companies) are guilty of violating a patent with their Prius hybrid Systems. The patent in particular looks like it covers most of how the drive-train and even the braking system of a Toyota Prius functions. The implications of which are big if there is no deal or settlement made (such as ceasing of hybrid vehicles in the United States)."

2 of 504 comments (clear)

  1. This patent doesn't cover Prius' s drive by Dr.+Crash · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Lesson 1: READ THE CLAIMS.

    Note that every claim is either a "base claim", that is, that starts a new description, or is a
    "subsidiary claim" that depends or extends another claim.

    Lesson 2: READ THE BASE CLAIMS TWICE.

    The base claims are the patent's "weak spots" - if you can just dodge every base claim, then
    the patent doesn't apply to you.

    Notice that in this patent every base claim says "electrical" on both power inputs. That's
    a major flaw; this patent has no claims that cover the case of only one electrical power
    input and one of a totally other kind of power.

    Lesson 3: THERE IS NO INFRINGEMENT IF NONE OF THE CLAIMS APPLY.

    The Prius driveline doesn't use an electrical motor on BOTH inputs, only on one. Hence it does
    not infringe.

    Next? :)

  2. Easy way around that: switch to lithium by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There's a group of companies developing lithium batteries that have created a patent pool. If your company develops technology for lithium batteries, you pay a fee to get into this group and then you can use for free any lithium patent from any company in the group. Of course, they get to use your patents as well, but with so many people looking out for submarine patents and the fact that your competitors signed a technology sharing agreement, the chance of a lawsuit is minimal.