The US International Trade Commission has said it will start an investigation into a Florida-based company’s claim that some gasoline-electric hybrid cars by Toyota and its component parts impinge upon its patent.
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The complaint by Paice LLC, involved in developing hybrid technology, ”alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation into the United States and sale of certain hybrid electric vehicles and components,” the ITC said in a release.
Paice filed the patent infringement complaint on September 3 against Toyota and two of its US subsidiaries, Toyota Motor North America Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., seeking an ITC order to ban the import and sales of the Prius, Camry and Lexus hybrid cars.
Toyota dismissed Paice’s assertions as ungrounded and said all of Paice’s claims are refutable.
The ITC said it ”will set a target date for completing the investigation” within 45 days after its start.
