Bridgestone Wins Strudels Tire Design Patent Infringement Lawsuit In China
Published On 08-Jan-2020
Bridgestone Corporation today in a press release announced that it has received a favourable ruling from the Intermediate People’s Court in Qingdao, China in its design patent infringement lawsuit against major Chinese tyre manufacturer Shengtai Group and Shandong Shengshi Tailai Rubber Technology Co., Ltd.
In March 2018, a lawsuit was filed by Bridgestone claiming that tire manufacturing and sales activity conducted by the Shengtai used the patented tread pattern of the Bridgestone BLIZZAK VRX studdles tire for passenger cars and that these activities were therefore in violation of the Company’s patent rights.
In July 2019, Shengtai was ordered to cease activity and dispose of the dedicated molds and pay Bridgestone damages in the amount of 800,000 Chinese Yuan (approximately 12.8 million Japanese Yen).
Bridgestone won another lawsuit against Shengtai Group, in April 2019, claiming a violation of the design pattern patent for the thread pattern of Bridgestone’s ST3000 truck tires.
Bridgestone is headquartered in Tokyo and is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tyres, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial and chemical products and sporting goods. Bridgestone has a reach in more than 150 nations and territories around the world.
