TOKYO — Bridgestone Corp. is claiming victory in a patent infringement lawsuit in China against Chinese tire manufacturer Shandong Vheal Group Co. Ltd.
The lawsuit, which was filed in September 2017, involved patent rights protecting Bridgestone's R118 truck tire tread pattern, which was developed by the group for China and other Asian markets, the tire maker said.
Bridgestone claimed in its suit with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court that Shandong Vheal manufactured and sold truck tires utilizing a tread pattern that was covered under a Bridgestone patent.
In June 2020, Bridgestone said, the Beijing court upheld its claim and ordered Shandong Vheal to cease activities that are in violation of the group's patent rights and to pay approximately $76,500 in damages to Bridgestone. The court issued its decision in October 2020.
Tire Business was unable to verify Bridgestone's claims independently.
According to Bridgestone, this is the second time it has enforced its patent covering the R118 tread pattern. In February the Shanghai High People's Court ruled against Fangxing Rubber Co. Ltd., ordering Fangxing to cease any patent-infringing activities and pay Bridgestone $95,000 in damages.
Bridgestone said it takes any unauthorised use or infringement of its patents, design rights, trademarks, or any other intellectual property seriously and would take "all necessary legal steps to enforce its rights."