Published: 3/1/2012
A Texas jury recently ruled in favor of General Electric in its lawsuit with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, finding the Japanese company guilty of patent infringement for the use of wind energy technologies created by GE.
According to Bloomberg, the main focus of the case for GE was to stay ahead in the U.S. wind turbine market. The patent GE alleged Mitsubishi of infringing upon related to a technology used to keep wind turbines connected to utility grids during times when voltage is not sustainable.
"GE applauds today's U.S. Court of Appeals decision, reversing the initial ruling on U.S. Patent No. 6,921,985 by the International Trade Commission in February 2010," said GE spokesman Chet Lasell on the ruling. "GE will continue to take the necessary steps to protect its significant investment in technological research and development in the U.S. and around the world."
Cases like these showcase the importance for professional liability insurance, which help companies protect their patents, as well as provide monetary support for companies that face intellectual property lawsuits.