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Airbus Challenges Patent on Fuel-Saving Winglets Used by Boeing
(Way to bite the hand that feeds you Airbus) Airbus SAS, the largest aircraft maker, sued a partner of Boeing Co. (BA) to avoid paying patent royalties for wing tips that make airplanes more fuel-efficient. The lawsuit filed today in Austin, Texas, asks the federal court to declare that the Aviation Partners Inc. patent is invalid and that Airbus doesn’t infringe. Closely held Aviation Partners, which has a joint venture with Boeing to make winglets that reduce drag on an airplane, has “stated… (www.bloomberg.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Just call it a "Sharklet" instead of a "winglet", paint shark's teeth on the nose and say to hell with API's Patent.....
Aviation Partners obviously has a solid patent otherwise Boeing would not have found this type of partnership advantageous. If Airbus chooses to stiff API and loses, the cost plus penalties could be astronomical. API has deep pockets in the form of Boeing who are more than happy to have additional price placed on every Airbus and/or customers wondering whether their aircraft are liable to be impounded.
Building the aircraft without the design technology will lead to an economical disadvantage to customers which will add up to a huge chunk of change annually. It will be interesting to see how much they piss off the judge with frivolous arguments.
Building the aircraft without the design technology will lead to an economical disadvantage to customers which will add up to a huge chunk of change annually. It will be interesting to see how much they piss off the judge with frivolous arguments.
V.J. Burnelli holds the original patent on end plating wing tips and it goes back to 1930. This technology goes back to before the 1900's. Boeing did not invent this technology and should get over themselves.
US Patent 5,348,253 Application date in 1993 to the original Aviation Partners, Inc who were vets of Lockheed and other aviation engineering.
US Patent 6,089,502 Blunt Leading Edge Raked Wingtips is owned by Boeing from 2000.
Both patents are online and only about 6 pages. The general rule on patents is that short, broad claims give the least ability to have them overturned as the rule is that any violation must be substantially different to do so. Boeing with all its legal and engineering geniuses obviously felt the original could not be overturned so "invested" in Aviation Partners Boeing, Inc.
What will be interesting will be whether Boeing has any "exclusivity clauses" with their partners.
US Patent 6,089,502 Blunt Leading Edge Raked Wingtips is owned by Boeing from 2000.
Both patents are online and only about 6 pages. The general rule on patents is that short, broad claims give the least ability to have them overturned as the rule is that any violation must be substantially different to do so. Boeing with all its legal and engineering geniuses obviously felt the original could not be overturned so "invested" in Aviation Partners Boeing, Inc.
What will be interesting will be whether Boeing has any "exclusivity clauses" with their partners.
owned.
How do you sue someone for the right to use their technology without having to pay for it? backwards..
let them build a couple airplanes, send a cease and desist letter and then get the fleet grounded.
THEN, you can talk about how much it'll cost to license it.
let them build a couple airplanes, send a cease and desist letter and then get the fleet grounded.
THEN, you can talk about how much it'll cost to license it.