Ford, GM, Honda, and Nissan Patent Challenges Revived by Vidal

US Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal vacated three administrative tribunal decisions denying challenges to two wireless communication patents, holding Ford Motor Co., American Honda Motor Co., General Motors LLC, and Nissan North America Inc. don’t have a “significant relationship” with petitioner Volkswagen AG.

The coalition of carmakers’ court-ordered coordination of invalidity arguments in multiditrict litigation over the technology doesn’t create a relationship with Volkswagen that’d preclude their challenges, said Vidal. The three orders published March 22 also noted the products that allegedly infringe Neo Wireless LLC’s US Patent Nos. 10,447,450 and 10,771,302 are different ...