Bridgestone wins patent infringement lawsuit in China

ERJ staff report (RPN)

Qingdao, China – Bridgestone Corp. has won a design patent infringement lawsuit against a Chinese tire maker before a Qingdao court, Bridgestone said in a press release as reported by Rubber & Plastics News.

Bridgestone filed suit against Qingdao Genco Industrial Group Co. Ltd. in the Qingdao City Intermediate People’s Court. The Tokyo-based tire maker claimed Qingdao Genco had illegally copied a patented Bridgestone truck and bus tire tread pattern.

The specific pattern is the groove design on the portion of the tire that makes contact with the road, according to Bridgestone.

“The Bridgestone Group will continue working to maintain and enhance the value of its brands by taking the necessary actions to protect its trade secrets and intellectual property,” Bridgestone said after its 20 May court victory.

According to the website Made-in-China.com, Qingdao Genco is one of the largest tire manufacturers in China, manufacturing radial and bias truck tires, passenger tires, off-the-road tires, agricultural tires and forklift tires under the Genco brand name. Qingdao Genco will not appeal the verdict, Bridgestone said.

This marks the second time in less than two years that Bridgestone has won a patent infringement case in a Chinese court. In December 2011, Bridgestone won a truck tire design case against Guangming Tyre Group Co. Ltd. in the Second Intermediate People’s Court in Beijing.