International Trade Today is a service of Warren Communications News.
Subscriber Login

ITC Votes to Institute GPS Patent Case Against Major Car Companies

November 18, 2011 by Barbara Chaves|AD/CV - Patent

The International Trade Commission has voted to institute a section 337 patent-based investigation of certain automotive GPS navigation systems, components thereof, and products containing same (337-TA-814). The products at issue in this investigation are GPS navigation systems and automobiles containing GPS navigation systems.

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.

Start My Free Preview

The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Beacon Navigation GmbH of Switzerland on October 21, 2011. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the U.S. and sale of certain automotive GPS navigation systems, components thereof, and product containing the same that infringe patents asserted by Beacon Navigation. The complainant requests that the ITC issue exclusion orders and cease and desist orders.

The ITC has identified the following as respondents in this investigation:

  1. Audi AG of Germany;
  2. Audi of America, Inc., of Auburn Hills, MI;
  3. Audi of America, LLC, of Herndon, VA;
  4. Bayerische Moteren Werke AG of Germany;
  5. BMW of North America, LLC, of Woodcliff Lake, NJ;
  6. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC, of Greer, SC;
  7. Chrysler Group LLC of Auburn Hills, MI;
  8. Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, MI;
  9. General Motors Company of Detroit, MI;
  10. Honda Motor Co., Ltd., of Japan;
  11. Honda North America, Inc., of Torrance, CA;
  12. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., of Torrance, CA;
  13. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, of Lincoln, AL;
  14. Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC, of Greensburg, IN;
  15. Honda of America Mfg., Inc., of Marysville, OH;
  16. Hyundai Motor Company of South Korea;
  17. Hyundai Motor America of Fountain Valley, CA;
  18. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC, of Montgomery, AL;
  19. Kia Motors Corp. of South Korea;
  20. Kia Motors America, Inc., of Irvine, CA;
  21. Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc., of West Point, GA;
  22. Mazda Motor Corporation of Japan;
  23. Mazda Motor of America, Inc., of Irvine, CA;
  24. Daimler AG of Germany;
  25. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, of Montvale, NJ;
  26. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc., of Vance, AL;
  27. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., of Japan;
  28. Nissan North America, Inc., of Franklin, TN;
  29. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG of Germany;
  30. Porsche Cars North America, Inc., of Atlanta, GA;
  31. Saab Automobile AB of Sweden;
  32. Saab Cars North America, Inc., of Royal Oak, MI;
  33. Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan;
  34. American Suzuki Motor Corporation of Brea, CA;
  35. Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC, of Mahwah, NJ;
  36. Jaguar Cars Limited of the United Kingdom;
  37. Land Rover of the United Kingdom;
  38. Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan;
  39. Toyota Motor North America, Inc., of Torrance, CA;
  40. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., of Torrance, CA;
  41. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., of Erlanger, KY;
  42. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc., of Princeton, IN;
  43. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., of Georgetown, KY;
  44. Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc., of Blue Springs, MS;
  45. Volkswagen AG of Germany;
  46. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., of Herndon, VA;
  47. Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC, of Herndon, VA;
  48. Volvo Car Corporation of Sweden; and
  49. Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, of Rockleigh, NJ.

(Subsequent Federal Register (11/23/11) notice on the initiation of this patent investigation, available here.)