Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest automaker, settled a patent-infringement dispute that had threatened U.S. imports of its newest hybrid vehicles, including the Prius.
The agreement with Paice LLC, ending six years of litigation, was announced today as a hearing was to begin on a claim against Toyota before the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington. Terms weren't disclosed and lawsuits pending in Texas and at a U.S. appeals court will be dismissed.
Paice founder Alex Severinsky, a Soviet emigrant who began his career developing antitank-warfare instrumentation, had said his 1994 patented system for a high-voltage method to power gas- electric hybrid cars was used by Toyota without permission. Severinsky, 65, has sought royalties from the automaker.
"Finally people understand the merits of what I invented and give it the proper value," Severinsky said today in an interview. "Toyota is the leading technology company and finally appreciates the value of the invention."
Ford Motor Co., maker of the Fusion hybrid car, agreed to license Paice's technology, the companies said on July 16 without revealing terms.
The Paice patent covers a way to supply torque to a car's wheels from both an electric motor and internal combustion engine using a combination of high voltage and low current.
Toyota, which was found to have infringed the patent in an earlier case, had said its hybrid vehicles are the result of its own research and asked the trade commission to deny Severinsky's latest claims.
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