Paice and Abell Seek Section 337 Exclusion Order on Ford Hybrid Cars

Paice and the Abell Foundation filed a Section 337 complaint at the International Trade Commission on Feb. 2, alleging Ford is importing hybrid vehicles that infringe its patents. Paice, which says it invented many of the most important technologies used in hybrid cars today, alleges it worked closely with Ford for years before Ford broke the business relationship “after learning everything it needed” and used the technology in its hybrid cars without a license. Paice and Abell, a Baltimore charity that co-owns the patents, recently settled a similar Section 337 case with Volkswagen. Paice and Abell seek a limited exclusion order and cease and desist order banning importation and sale of infringing hybrid cars. The ITC is asking for comments by Feb. 16 (here) on public interest issues raised by the complaint.