Hesai Group mentioned it is going to “vigorously defend itself” towards allegations of patent infringement by Ouster, a rival firm.
The Shanghai lidar maker is going through a patent-infringement lawsuit and a U.S. International Trade Commission grievance by Ouster, a San Francisco lidar maker. Ouster says Hesai stole data from 5 of its lidar patents, whereas Hesai’s response claims its designs and expertise are unique.
“We believe Ouster’s complaints are deeply flawed and lack merit,” mentioned Yifan David Li, Hesai’s CEO, in a press release launched Monday. “We invest heavily in proprietary research and development. We have more than 700 staff working in our R&D and manufacturing teams.”
Ouster requested the International Trade Commission to research imports of Hesai lidar sensors that the corporate says infringe on its patents, and is looking for a cease-and-desist order to bar the import of these merchandise to the U.S. Ouster additionally sued for patent infringement in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, asking for financial damages and an injunction.
Hesai beforehand settled a patent case with Velodyne, a lidar maker that merged with Ouster in February, by paying “millions” over patents in Germany, China and the U.S. in 2020, in line with Ouster.
Hesai didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
Angus Pacala, Ouster’s CEO, mentioned in a press release that the corporate is “confident in our patent infringement claim against Hesai” and intends to “vigorously enforce our IP until the infringing products are barred.”
Pacala beforehand informed Automotive News that Hesai’s March public providing and associated filings copied Ouster’s plans.
“It’s insane it’s being allowed,” he mentioned.
The authorized struggle between Ouster and Hesai comes because the federal authorities makes an attempt to struggle expertise thefts related to China. President Joe Biden signed the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act in January to beef up penalties for firms that steal American mental property.
“In China and other countries across the globe, foreign corporations are working — often in coordination with authoritarian regimes — to steal our cutting-edge technologies to gain unfair advantages at America’s expense,” mentioned Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, in a press release.
About 80 p.c of the Department of Justice’s financial espionage prosecutions by 2021 alleged conduct that may profit the Chinese state, the division mentioned.
Source: www.autonews.com