3M Company and Saint-Gobain Abrasives Inc. announced they have settled a long-standing patent dispute in Europe that related to 3M’s Paint Preparation System (PPS) and Saint-Gobain’s “Norton Paint Systems” (NPS) brand. The settlement covers infringement actions brought by 3M under several European patents against Saint-Gobain Abrasives in Germany and in France and corresponding actions by […]
3M Files Lawsuit Against Thunder Finish for PPS Technology Patent and Trademark Infringement
3Mand 3M Innovative Properties Co. filed a lawsuit September 22 in the Western District of Wisconsin against China-based Thunder Finish Co. Ltd. alleging infringement of patent and trademark rights related to 3M’s PPS technology used in the automotive collision repair industry. 3M has filed several patent infringement claims over technologies used in its collision repair […]
OEConnection Receives Patent for MyPriceLink Dynamic Collision Repair Parts Pricing
OEConnection LLC (OEC) announced the issuance of US Patent No. 9,747,481 for its MyPriceLink service that delivers real-time dynamic list pricing on original equipment (OE) collision repair parts based on timing and local market conditions. “OEC continues to lead the way in pioneering new technologies that are revolutionizing the auto parts industry,” said Chuck Rotuno, […]
Federal Appeals Court Affirms Patent Office Ruling Against Audatex in 2012 Lawsuit with Mitchell
Federal Circuit Appeals Court affirms U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Board ruling that business process patents at heart of 2012 infringement lawsuit invalid. On July 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled against an appeal by Audatex North America, Inc. seeking to have a February 19, 2016 decision by the U.S. […]
Supreme Court Decision Delivers Victory for Aftermarket on Patents
In what the Auto Care Association calls a “major victory for the auto care industry.” the Supreme Court upheld the legal precedent of patent exhaustion, which states that a company’s right to protect its patent ends when the product is sold to the end user. Information from an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court […]
3M Files Lawsuit Against K2 Concepts and Phoenix Automotive Refinishing for Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Infringement
3M Co. and 3M Innovative Properties Co. filed a lawsuit yesterday, in the Central District of California against K2 Concepts and China-based Phoenix Automotive Refinishing, alleging multiple counts of patent, trademark, and copyright infringement. The suit alleges that certain automotive painting spray gun cup products, which are made by Phoenix in China and marketed and […]
PARTS Act Reintroduced in U.S. Congress
ABPA and Coalition for Auto Repair Equality support legislation that seeks to limit vehicle manufacturer collision repair part design patents. The Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales Act of 2017 (PARTS Act), was re-introduced in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday. The legislation (H.R. 1879/S. 812) would amend the current U.S. design patent law by lowering, […]
XPEL and 3M Settle Patent Infringement Lawsuit
XPEL Technologies Corp., a supplier of automotive paint protection and window protection films, and 3M, announced they have reached a settlement agreement in a patent infringement lawsuit that was filed in December 2015. “I am pleased we have been able to resolve this matter and look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality products and services […]
3M Wins Preliminary Injunction Against Spain-Based BossAuto Over PPS Technology
3M (NYSE:MMM) announced that the Commercial Court of Barcelona, Spain, has ordered a preliminary injunction against BossAuto Innova S.A. for infringement of the Spanish portion of 3M’s European patent EP 0,954,381 B2. This patent relates to 3M’s PPS technology that enables the mixing and spraying of coatings for automotive collision repair. The court order prohibits […]
3M Prevails in European Patent Infringement Action
3M (NYSE:MMM) announced yesterday that the District Court of Frankfurt, Germany, has ordered a preliminary injunction against China-based Qingdao Summit Industrial Co., Ltd. for infringement of the German portion of 3M’s European patent EP 0,954,381 B2. This patent relates to 3M’s PPS technology that enables the mixing and spraying of coatings for collision repair. The court order […]