Nippon Steel has filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation and a Chinese steel company for damages, alleging that the patents for its steel products have been infringed.
It would be unusual for Japan's leading companies to vie in court, but Toyota argues that it is a matter for steel companies to discuss.
Nippon Steel has infringed the patent for a product called "non-oriented electrical steel sheet" used in motors of hybrid vehicles, etc., and Toyota Motor Corporation and Chinese steel giant Baoshan Iron & Steel have each compensated for damages of about 20 billion yen. On the 14th, I filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court.
Judging that cars made of steel suspected of infringing patents also infringed patents, Toyota also filed a provisional disposition requesting that the domestic manufacture and sale of such cars be suspended.
Nippon Steel said, "We have been discussing with Toyota, but we have not been able to resolve it. It is an important technology in the company's strategy, and we could not overlook patent infringement."
On the other hand, Toyota held a press conference on the night of the 14th, saying that it was "regrettable" and explained that it had confirmed in writing that Baoshan Iron & Steel, which was the supplier of electrical steel sheets, did not infringe the patent.
In addition, Nippon Steel pointed out that it was a patent infringement, such as the "ingredients" of steel materials, and argued that it was an issue that should be discussed between Baoshan Iron & Steel and Nippon Steel, rather than suing Toyota, the user. ..
If Nippon Steel and Toyota, which are closely related to each other, represent Japan, will dispute in a trial, it will be an unusual situation, and it seems that the focus will be on how to deal with it so that both businesses are not affected.