According to foreign media reports, the latest group of lawsuits was filed in June 165438+ 10/9, targeting Audi A6? Allroad, Q5, Q7 and Q8, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Tiguan. The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) said that it was investigating whether audi ag infringed the off-road technology patent held by Jaguar Land Rover. In the press release, the US International Trade Commission pointed out that its investigation does not mean that the US International Trade Commission has made any decision on the merits of the case.
Jaguar Land Rover has filed a series of lawsuits to prohibit its competitor Volkswagen Group from selling new Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche SUVs in the United States.
Until last week, JLR initiated four lawsuits in two American states in one day, and filed unfair trade complaints against the entire Volkswagen Group, which was the end of the war of words. After years of unsuccessful negotiations with one of its biggest competitors, JLR now wants the United States to ban the import of almost all new Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche off-road vehicles.
Bentayga was launched in 20 16, and it was the fastest and most expensive SUV in the world at that time. At that time, a Bentayga accelerated to 60 mph, almost two seconds faster than the best Land Rover Range Rover. But Ben Tayga got off to a more bumpy start. When is EXP? 9? When the F concept car made its debut in Geneva, it was widely criticized. It is said that Bentley began to redesign its appearance a week after the auto show.
Although the mass-produced Bentayga looks better, it shares many components with the small brands of Volkswagen Group and faces more competition in the field of ultra-luxury SUVs. Therefore, the update of 202 1 came earlier than the usual company standard. During that time, Land Rover responded by adding more luxurious long-wheelbase cars and more power to the Range Rover and providing hand-built two-door models. With the addition of the new Aston Martin DBX, there are already four British luxury SUVs in the price range of $200,000 on the market.
But in Jaguar Land Rover's view, Bentayga's driving dynamics model comes from Land Rover's terrain? Copy from the response system. The system was introduced on LR3 in 2005, which provided a different level of electronic control and customization than any other vehicle at that time. Five preset settings optimize ABS, throttle and transmission adjustment, differential lock and air suspension, which are suitable for all kinds of roads and are represented by icons on the center console (ordinary, grass/gravel/snow, mud and rutting, sand crawling). On the basis of two old British patents filed by Ford, Land Rover filed a patent application for terrain response with the US Patent and Trademark Office in 2003, which was approved in 2008.
JLR patent drawing shows the difference between suspension and wheel.
Bentayga continues to come standard with four road driving modes (comfort, sport, customization and Bentley) and all-terrain specifications. Turning the turntable to these modes (snow and grass, mud and gravel, mud and path, sand) can change the behavior of vehicles in a way similar to terrain? Response. For example, in the sand mode, Bentley and Land Rover will delay the intervention of ABS and let loose sand accumulate under the front wheels, which can shorten the braking distance compared with parking on hard roads. In addition, Bentayga can also adjust its driving height, steering, throttle, gearbox and other systems.
It is unclear whether Ford and other automakers have paid royalties to Jaguar Land Rover at present, because they are also selling vehicles with similar terrain adaptive driving modes. At present, vehicles with various driving modes and controlling multiple vehicle parts have become very common. Technology licensing is also common in the automobile industry. So in February of 20 16, Jaguar Land Rover took a fancy to this when sending a friendly letter to Bentley. In the letter, Jaguar Land Rover accused Bentley of infringing its patented terrain? Respond
Bentley doesn't think it infringes any patents, and it doesn't intend to pay patent fees for the ordinary functions it considers luxury SUVs. This triggered Land Rover to rewrite its original American patent, detailing its function of accusing Bentley of plagiarism in a more precise and clear way. On September 20 16, Land Rover submitted an application to reissue its 2008 patent, and put forward dozens of new claims, such as defining its system as? "Having a driving mode including at least two off-road modes and one road mode". A year later, Land Rover sent a letter to Porsche, saying that its cayenne now violated the terrain? Responding to a patent requires authorization.
On February 20 18, Land Rover informed Bentley that its reissued patent would? "Soon?" Get approval. The original patent does have potential loopholes. It describes how various driving modes work, but does not frame them in the driver's unique interest background-what will the driver have? "Direct input about ground topography". When the Patent Office approves the replacement in May, it is conceivable that Land Rover will be in a safer position and charge Bentley a patent fee. A month later, it sued Bentley for infringing the patent right of the new patent that just came into effect.
According to the litigation documents, in July, Land Rover issued two infringement letters to Audi and Lamborghini, especially for the ANIMA system on Lamborghini Urus and the Audi driving selection system on Q5, Q7 and e-tron. Bentley 5438+ 10 counterattack in June. In the motion to dismiss the case, the automobile manufacturer said that the entire 20 18 patent of Land Rover should be declared invalid.
Bentley said in the document: "The disputed patent in this case is not to solve technical problems." On the contrary, its claims are directed at the concept of controlling the vehicle according to the driving surface selected by the driver. According to the case law of the Supreme Court, this is an abstract idea and cannot be patented. "
In 20 19, Bentley submitted two applications to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in an attempt to deny Land Rover's new claim. In these patents, Bentley will Mitsubishi Lan Se? Evolution? Seven. Hummer H2 and Porsche 959? "Is it obvious?" For example, long before Land Rover got its first patent, car manufacturers were already selling cars with optional road and off-road modes.
"People need to decide now, should I buy a Bentayga or a Range Rover?" ? Land Rover said at a hearing of the 20 19 Patent Committee. "Land Rover Range Rover is a well-known leader in terrain response technology. This is brand definition technology, your honor, Bentley has installed it in their car. "
On August 20 19, the board of directors rejected two applications from Bentley. In March and June this year 10, the auto manufacturer's request for review was rejected. In response, the board said that it believed that the center and rear differential of Bentley 959 were independent? "subsystem?" This parameter is invalid. A great deal of supporting research provided by Bentley —— from Hummer news materials to QX4 owners' manuals in Britain and finidi, and then to the report on Porsche transmission in issue 20 13 of Cars and Drivers —— is not enough to invalidate JLR's patent.
On June165438+1October 19, Jaguar Land Rover filed four patent infringement lawsuits against Audi ag America, Porsche North America, Audi America and Lamborghini America. On the same day, Jaguar Land Rover made a request to the United States International Trade Commission to investigate the automobile manufacturers according to the Unfair Competition Law and prevent the import of their vehicles. Specifically, according to the contents of the letter released to Bloomberg, Jaguar Land Rover aims at Cayenne, Urus, Tiguan and A6? Allroad, Q5, Q7 and Q8.
Regarding the lawsuit, a spokesman for Audi AG made such a statement. "Audi is studying this action to determine further measures. At this stage, we will not make any further comments on the ongoing litigation. "
A spokesman for Jaguar Land Rover North America said that the company? "Don't comment on ongoing legal disputes; However, protecting our intellectual property rights is something we attach great importance to. "
Judging from the recent lawsuit, Jaguar Land Rover hopes to recover the patent fees and losses owed for many years. Although Volkswagen did not formally respond, it hoped to avoid the federal reaction caused by illegally imported vehicles, especially after the diesel emission scandal a few years ago, it was convicted by the United States and fined billions. Considering the pending court cases and the investigation by the Trade Commission, Volkswagen Group is more likely to reach a settlement with JLR without formally authorizing its existing and future cars.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.