Erise IP client Ford Motor Company has received a summary judgment in a lawsuit in which Vehicle Interface Technologies alleged that Ford Motor Company and another automaker infringed on VIT’s patented computerized control panels.
“The suits alleged the automakers ripped off the patented computing system and display that includes a fixed area to display vehicle information, including speed and gas level, as well as a selectable area to display a plurality of pages, each of which include at least one parameter for the vehicle’s optional subsystems,” a Law360 article said.
“The manufacturers argued that the patent covers prior art, and the judge based his opinion on similar technology included in the 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles and its user manual,” the Law360 article continued.
In granting summary judgment, U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews said in his opinion, “There is no genuine issue of material fact with regard to anticipation, and the court finds that all of the asserted claims of the ‘677 patent are anticipated by the 2001 Mercedes.”