Toyota Settles Infringement Case Over Hybrid Patent

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Bloomberg

Susan Decker in Washington -- Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest automaker, settled a patent-infringement dispute that had threatened imports of its newest hybrid vehicles, including the Prius.

The agreement was announced today as a hearing was set to begin on a claim by Paice LLC, founded by Alex Severinsky, against Toyota before the U.S. International Trade Commission. Terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed.

Severinsky, a Soviet emigrant who began his career developing antitank-warfare instrumentation, had said his 1994 patented system for a high-voltage method to power gas-electric hybrid cars was used by Toyota without permission. Severinsky, 65, spent years trying to get the automaker to pay royalties.

“Finally people understand the merits of what I invented and give it the proper value,” Severinsky said today in an interview. “Toyota is the leading technology company and finally appreciates the value of the invention.”



Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-19/toyota-settles-infringement-case-over-hybrid-patent.html