Michelin North America today filed suit against Atturo Tire and Svizz-One alleging they infringed a design patent covering the Michelin Latitude directional tire tread design. Michelin filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina in Greenville, S.C.
The suit alleges that two tire models – the Atturo AZ600 and the Thunderer Ranger 007- infringe the company’s U.S. patent D483,322 for a directional tread used on light trucks in performance applications.
Atturo brand tires are dedicated to the light-truck segment that includes SUVS, pick-up trucks and crossovers. The Atturo tires in question are manufactured by Svizz-One in Thailand for the US market.
“This lawsuit demonstrates Michelin’s legal strategy to protect the intellectual property created by its 6,000 research and development employees, and an annual R&D investment of about $700 million dollars,” said Michelin Vice President of Research and Development Paul Grosskopf.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
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Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Michelin North America says it has reached favorable settlement agreements with Atturo Tire Corporation and Svizz-One Corporation Ltd., regarding its patent infringement suit it filed on May 13 in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina in Greenville, S.C. The parties agreed that the specific terms of the settlement shall remain confidential.
The Michelin suit alleged that Atturo Tire Corporation and Svizz-One Corporation Ltd. infringed design patent U.S. D483,322 covering the Michelin® Latitude® Tour tread design.
“We are pleased with this litigation settlement,” said Scott Clark, chief operating officer, Michelin North America. “In addition to recognizing the hard work of our employees, Michelin’s patents represent our Company’s commitment to providing quality products to our customers.”