Federal lawsuit alleges vehicle manufacturer is seeking to undermine aftermarket parts supplier’s business relationships and seeks to change license agreement terms. LKQ Corporation filed a lawsuit in an Illinois Federal Court seeking a judgment against General Motors over the infringement and validity of collision repair part design patents. The lawsuit, LKQ Corporation and Keystone Automotive […]
ABPA Releases Statement on Supreme Court Ruling
As CollisionWeek reported yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a petition by the Automotive Body Part Association (ABPA) to review a lower court ruling against the association in its design patent lawsuit against Ford. The ABPA released a statement in response to the ruling. According to the ABPA, “On March 9, 2020, the United States […]
Auto Body Parts Association to Appeal Ford Design Patent Lawsuit to U.S. Supreme Court
The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) said it is continuing its efforts to challenge the validity and enforceability of design patents directed toward automotive body repair parts. In July 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit published its public opinion rejecting arguments by the ABPA that design patents covering a hood and […]
Federal Appeals Court Rules Against ABPA in Ford Collision Repair Part Design Patent Suit
Upholds lower court finding that Ford’s design patents for the F-150 are valid and enforceable. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on July 23 published its public opinion rejecting arguments by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) that design patents covering a hood and headlamp for the Ford F-150 are invalid. […]
Federal Court Rejects ABPA Effort to Invalidate Ford Collision Repair Body Parts Design Patent
Judge declines ABPA motion to rule Ford F-150 body part design patents invalid and unenforceable. In a decision issued February 20, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan declined a motion for summary judgement by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) to invalidate two of Ford’s design patents covering patents for body […]
LKQ Corporation and Chrysler Sign Patent License Agreement, End Lawsuit
Agreement brings end to lawsuit filed by Chrysler in January. LKQ Corporation announced it has entered into a Patent License Agreement with Chrysler Group LLC that grants LKQ a license under certain Chrysler design patents in connection with LKQ’s distribution and sale of aftermarket collision parts in the United States. As part of the agreement, […]
ABPA Files Lawsuit Seeking to Overturn Ford Design Patents
Seeks to have body repair part design patents ruled invalid. Alleges Ford uses patents to limit distribution and increase cost of repair parts. On November 25, the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Ford Global Technologies, LLC that seeks to […]
LKQ Makes Deal to Sell Copies of Patented Ford Crash Parts
A settlement agreement was reached Wednesday between Ford Motor Company and LKQ Corporation in the litigation filed by Ford to protect its design patents on collision parts. The settlement provides that LKQ will not challenge the validity and enforceability of Ford’s design patents during the term of the agreement. In exchange, LKQ will become the […]
Ford Files Suit to Halt U.S. Import of Aftermarket Crash Parts
Ford has filed suit with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) claiming that certain aftermarket parts violate patents held by the automaker. Ford claims that certain parts designed for use on the F-150 infringe on its patents and the automaker has requested that the ITC issue a cease and desist order to stop importation of […]