Tokyo - Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced it has received a favorable ruling from the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China in a lawsuit alleging infringement of the company's tire tread design rights against Chinese tire manufacturer Shandong Hawk International Rubber Industry Co., Ltd. (Hawk Tyre).

In June 2017, Bridgestone filed the lawsuit claiming that tires manufactured by Hawk Tyre utilized the tread pattern1 of the Bridgestone ECOPIA R102 tire for truck and bus, and that these activities were therefore in violation of the company's design rights. In January 2024, the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China ruled in favor of Bridgestone. Hawk Tyre was ordered to pay damages to the company in an amount of 300,000 Chinese yuan (approximately 6 million Japanese yen)2.

Bridgestone treats intellectual property as a key management resource, and it takes any unauthorized use or infringement of its patents, design rights, trademarks, or any other intellectual property very seriously. With this level of vigilance, Bridgestone is prioritizing the safety and reliability associated with its products, as well as maintaining and enhancing its hard-earned brand value. These efforts help the company deliver its corporate commitment of 'Ease: Committed to bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life' as described in the 'Bridgestone E8 Commitment'3.

About Bridgestone Corporation

Bridgestone is a global leader in tires and rubber building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company employs approximately 130,000 people globally and conducts business in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

(C) 2024 Electronic News Publishing, source ENP Newswire