BMW, Mercedes Win Nixing of Software Patent at Tribunal

BMW of North America LLC and Mercedes-Benz USA LLC convinced an administrative tribunal to throw out a vehicle software patent that’s part of a broader district court dispute over automotive technology.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board said Tuesday that Stragent LLC’s U.S. Patent No. 10,248,477 is invalid because it would’ve been obvious in light of previous inventions.

The board agreed last year to hear the carmakers’ challenge to the ‘477 patent, but it rejected their requested reviews of five other Stragent patents, saying the challenges were based on arguments the board already rejected.

Stragent and the carmakers continue to ...