Rolls-Royce Loses Engine-Patent Case Against United Technologies’ Pratt
Rolls-Royce Group Plc (RR/), the world’s second-largest maker of jet engines, lost the patent- infringement case it brought against United Technologies Corp.’s Pratt & Whitney over fan technology.
Pratt’s GP7200 Fan Stage doesn’t violate a patent issued in 2000 for a Rolls-Royce Trent engine used on the Airbus SAS A380 airplane, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, said in a decision issued today.
Rolls-Royce had been seeking as much as $3.7 billion in damages before Brinkema on May 4 told the London-based company it was likely overstating the effect of competition on sales. Brinkema rejected the infringement claims today after determining the two competing technologies weren’t the same because the Rolls-Royce patent covers a fan stage with three sweep regions, while Pratt fans have four, according to the opinion.
“Rolls-Royce takes protection of its technology and intellectual property very seriously,” the company said in a statement. “We are disappointed by today’s ruling and will carefully consider our options.”
Rolls-Royce competes against a venture of East Hartford, Connecticut-based Pratt and General Electric Co. (GE) to provide engines for the A380. GE is the largest maker of jet engines.
The swept-fan blade design at issue in the case allows for a twist, giving the largest part of a jet engine greater resistance to damage by foreign objects, more stability and lower noise levels. The trial was scheduled to begin June 6, and Brinkema said Pratt must decide whether to pursue claims the patent is invalid and unenforceable.
Pratt’s Case
“The court’s ruling confirms what we have always maintained, that our products do not infringe the Rolls patent,” Pratt said in an e-mailed statement. “If Rolls chooses to appeal the decision, we will continue to defend ourselves.”
Pratt in November filed its own patent-infringement case against Rolls-Royce with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington. A trial is scheduled for October before the agency, which has the power to block imports of products found to violate U.S. patents.
The case is Rolls-Royce Plc v. United Technologies Corp. (UTX), 10cv457, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria).
To contact the reporters on this story: Tom Schoenberg in Washington at tschoenberg@bloomberg.net; Susan Decker in Washington at sdecker1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Allan Holmes at aholmes25@bloomberg.net; Michael Hytha at mhytha@bloomberg.net
More News:
- Law ·
- U.S. ·
- Transportation
Rate this Page