Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced that it has received a favorable ruling in its lawsuit regarding infringement of tire tread design rights against Chinese tire manufacturer Triangle Tyre Co., Ltd (hereafter, Triangle Tyre).
Triangle Tyre had been manufacturing and selling tires using a tread pattern* for studless tires for which Bridgestone holds exclusive design rights. In October 2013, the Company filed a lawsuit with the Intermediate People’s Court in Changchun, China. The lawsuit claimed that the activities of Triangle Tyre constituted a design rights infringement. In July 2015, Bridgestone’s claim was upheld, and the court ordered Triangle Tyre to cease manufacture and sale of tires that use said tread pattern and pay damages to the Company. While Triangle Tyre appealed the ruling, the High People’s Court in Jilin Province upheld the original ruling in January 2016 at an appeal trial, resulting in a victory for Bridgestone.
Bridgestone is committed to protecting its intellectual property and will continue to deal with any unauthorized use or infringement of its patents, trademarks, or any other intellectual property in a strict manner. With this level of vigilance, Bridgestone is prioritizing the safety and quality associated with its products, and maintaining and enhancing its hard-earned brand value.
* Tread pattern etched into the section of the tire that comes into direct contact with the road’s surface
