Federal Circuit Overturns GM's Patent Win Against Auto-Parts Provider LKQ
Federal Circuit Overturns GM's Patent Win Against Auto-Parts Provider LKQ
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) has experienced a setback in its legal battle against aftermarket auto parts provider LKQ Corp. (NASDAQ:LKQ) regarding fender designs.
通用汽车公司纽约证券交易所代码：GM）在与售后汽车零部件供应商LKQ Corp.（纳斯达克股票代码：LKQ）的挡泥板设计法律斗争中遇到了挫折。
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned a previous decision favoring GM, marking a huge shift in design-patent law with a rare full-court decision.
美国联邦巡回上诉法院推翻了先前有利于通用汽车的裁决，通过一项罕见的全庭裁决，标志着外观设计专利法的巨大转变。
Reuters reported that the Federal Circuit Court discarded a long-standing test for determining the validity of a design patent and remanded the case to the U.S. Patent Office for further review.
路透社报道说，联邦巡回法院放弃了长期以来用于确定外观设计专利有效性的测试，并将该案发回美国专利局进一步审查。
Meanwhile, LKQ's attorney, Mark Lemley, described the ruling as vital to providing consumers with safer, quality repair options.
同时，LKQ的律师马克·莱姆利将该裁决描述为为消费者提供更安全、优质的维修选择至关重要。
Design patents safeguard the unique visual features of manufactured items. In 2022, LKQ requested the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board to invalidate a GM design patent for a front vehicle fender after their licensing agreement lapsed, and GM threatened legal action.
设计专利保护了制成品的独特视觉特征。2022年，LKQ要求美国专利商标局的专利审判和上诉委员会在其许可协议到期后宣布通用汽车前置车辆挡泥板的设计专利无效，通用汽车威胁要采取法律行动。
Also Read: General Motors, LG Establish $150M Settlement Fund For Bolt EV Battery Issues: Report
另请阅读: 通用汽车和LG为Bolt电动汽车电池问题设立了1.5亿美元的和解基金：报告
LKQ contended that GM's patent was obvious by comparing it to two earlier designs, but the board ruled in GM's favor. A three-judge panel at the Federal Circuit later upheld this decision.
LKQ辩称，通用汽车的专利与早期的两种设计进行比较是显而易见的，但董事会作出了有利于通用汽车的裁决。联邦巡回法院由三名法官组成的小组后来维持了这一裁决。
The full Federal Circuit agreed last June to revisit the case, marking its first full-court rehearing in a patent case since 2018.
去年6月，联邦巡回法院全体成员同意重新审理此案，这是自2018年以来首次对专利案进行全庭复审。
LKQ argued that the Supreme Court's 2007 decision, which rejected rigid and mandatory formulas for utility patents, should apply to design patents as well.
LKQ辩称，最高法院2007年的裁决驳回了实用专利的严格和强制性公式，也应适用于外观设计专利。
Several auto parts companies supported LKQ, claiming that maintaining the current test would increase the cost and reduce the availability of replacement parts.
几家汽车零部件公司支持LKQ，声称维持目前的测试将增加成本并减少替换零件的可用性。
Conversely, companies like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) advocated for retaining the existing test to ensure a predictable patent landscape.
相反，苹果公司（纳斯达克股票代码：AAPL）和福特汽车公司等公司(NYSE: F) 主张保留现有测试，以确保可预测的专利格局。
The Federal Circuit sided with LKQ, deeming the current test as improperly rigid and suggesting a more flexible approach akin to the utility-patent obviousness test.
联邦巡回法院支持LKQ，认为目前的测试不够严格，并建议采取类似于实用专利明显性测试的更灵活的方法。
Price Action: At the last check on Wednesday, GM shares were trading lower by 1.54% at $44.24.
价格走势：在周三的最后一次检查中，通用汽车股价下跌1.54％，至44.24美元。
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
免责声明: 该内容部分是在人工智能工具的帮助下制作的，并由Benzinga编辑审查和发布。
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