Bridgestone wins design infringement lawsuit in China

Tokyo - Bridgestone Corp. has won a lawsuit against Chinese tire manufacturer Shandong Hawk International Rubber Industry for infringement of design rights.

In a statement 1 Feb, the Japanese tire maker said the Supreme People's Court of China issued a judgestment ordering Hawk to pay Yuan300,000 (€39,000) in damages for infringing Bridgestone’s registered tire tread pattern.

Dating back to June 2017, the claim concerns the design rights related to the tread pattern of truck and bus tire Ecopia R102.

Bridgestone went on to stress that it viewed intellectual property as one of its important management resources.

“We will continue to take strict action against unauthorised use or infringement of patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property,” it concluded.