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Transportation
Ropes & Gray's Intellectual Property Group has been working with the aerospace and automotive industries since those industries began.
Our attorneys made history on behalf of the Wright Brothers and continue to represent companies in all segments of the aerospace and affiliated industries. Over the years we have worked with companies involved in aircraft design, aircraft assembly, aircraft engines and parts, auxiliary equipment, guided missiles and space vehicles, propulsion units and airframe assemblies.
In the automotive industry, we have worked with the Ford Motor Company for decades, initially in the days of Henry Ford. When Ford developed some of his earliest designs, our team was there to protect his investment. And we are still at the forefront of automotive intellectual property, advising Ford and other leaders in the industry on all aspects of automotive patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. In recent years, we represented Ford in the historic Lemelson v. Ford litigation, one of the most important cases the automotive industry has faced in the past two decades.
The modern automotive industry faces new opportunities and new challenges through every aspect of the manufacturing process. Technological advancement has been dominated by the drive to create cleaner, lower emission engines. Auto industry researchers are finding new solutions in fuel cell technology, liquified petroleum, compressed natural gas, hybrid electric cars and other inventions. And the Internet and satellite technology are providing methods to develop navigation systems and other high-tech services for drivers. All of these innovations must be perfected and defended in the highly-competitive global economy.
The Intellectual Property Group is home to dozens of attorneys, patent agents and technical advisors with advanced degrees in myriad technological fields relevant to the technologies deployed by transportation companies. The ability to understand the complex nature of the aerospace, automotive and other transportation-related technologies offers us a marked advantage in serving these industries.
Representative Experience
- We represented Ford Motor Company in a patent infringement action involving exhaust gas recirculation control valves in the Western District of Washington.
- In Gentex v. Donnelly, we obtained injunctions and damages enforcing Gentex patents on electrochromatic rearview mirrors.
- We represent Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation in separate patent infringement actions involving remotely actuated vehicle alarms.
- We have represented Boeing in various matters.
©2008 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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