Electric vehicle leader Tesla filed a case against Australian supercapacitor maker Cap-XX for an alleged battery technology patent infringement. As per the official document, the defendant uses supercapacitors for its batteries that allegedly infringe two US patents of Tesla subsidiary Maxwell Technologies.
In retrospect, Tesla CEO Elon Musk released a statement in June 2014, saying that he would not go after companies that intend to use the automaker’s technologies.
“Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal.
Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in 2014
That said, Tesla’s move to file a case against the Australian firm is surprising, as it contradicts his previous statement. However, the EV giant explained that this legal move is just a retaliation to Cap-XX’s patent infringement claim against Maxwell Technologies years ago.
More about the lawsuit
Tesla filed the patent infringement case against Cap-XX in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
“CAP-XX previously filed suit against Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (“Maxwell”), which is a subsidiary of Tesla, alleging that Maxwell infringed U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,920,034 and 7,382,600. Maxwell has a history of innovation that has resulted in its own patents, now assigned to Tesla, and thus Tesla brings this suit against CAP-XX to protect its intellectual property rights.”
The lawsuit indicated
Tesla demands the court an undisclosed amount for damages from the defendant.
For context, the Musk-led automaker acquired Maxwell Technologies in 2019. It produces capacitors which are necessary components for electric vehicle batteries. Telsa refers to it as the “primary source of the device’s power capabilities.”
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If Tesla wins the lawsuit, Cap-XX must pay substantial financial damages to the American automaker. In effect, its future business opportunities may be tarnished. Nonetheless, this case only proves the importance of intellectual property rights, especially in the highly competitive EV technology race.
