Boeing Can Keep Electric Flight Tech Theft Suit in Federal Court

An airplane company’s allegations that the Boeing Co. stole hybrid- and electric-powered flight technology can’t return to state court because of a patent dispute in the case, a Washington federal court said.

Boeing removed Zunum Aero Inc.'s lawsuit to federal court at the same time it said in counterclaims that Zunum’s allegations effectively challenged inventorship of a patent recently issued to Boeing. Boeing met its burden to establish that a legitimate dispute existed as to the rightful inventor of the “thin haul hybrid electric propulsion system,” the US District Court for the Western District of Washington said.

The ...