U.S. to probe Toyota hybrid patents

[Nelson Atwell]

I bet it would bring joy to Mudville (Detriot) to see Toyota lose this case. A little-known company in Florida claims the hybrids infringe on their patent. It probably would make the oil companies happy too, since fuel-efficient vehicles cut into their profits.

 

[Rich Stern]

Nelson, let me cut to the final scene of this skit for you:



If there was patent infringement , the company with the patent will be tickled silly, not because Toyota will stop building the cars, but rather because Toyota will settle the case by paying the company X dollars (or yen) per transmission.



Cases like these happen frequently, and for the vast majority of them, the goal of the patent holder is to get a royalty, and definitely not to stop production.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

Exactly. The patent holder for Blackberry mobile devices is doing the same thing. They have great leverage too, since nearly every military commander and high ranking government official in the US carries one of their devices.