Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone Corporation has won a favourable ruling in a Chinese court in a design patent infringement suit against two local tyre makers. The company had sued Chinese tyre manufacturers Shengtai Group and Shandong Shengshi Tailai Rubber Technology (SSTRT) in March 2018.
Bridgestone filed the lawsuit claiming that tyre manufacturing and sales activities conducted by Shengtai used the patented tread pattern of the Bridgestone BLIZZAK VRX studless tyre for passenger cars, and that these activities were therefore in violation of its patent rights.
In July 2019, Shengtai was ordered to cease activities, dispose of the dedicated moulds, and pay Bridgestone damages in the amount of RMB800,000.
In April 2019, Bridgestone won another lawsuit against Shengtai Group, claiming violations of the design patent for the tread pattern of Bridgestone’s ST3000 truck tyres.
Bridgestone says it takes “seriously any unauthorised use or infringement of its patents, trademarks or any other intellectual property. With this level of vigilance, Bridgestone is prioritising the safety and reliability associated with its products and maintaining and enhancing its hard-earned brand value”.
Earlier, the company revealed a similar victory over two other Chinese companies, Guangzhou South China Tire & Rubber and Wanli Tire.
That suit related to the tread pattern on Bridgestone’s Dueller A/T Revo 2 tyre, which is used on sports utility vehicles.