AP Racing sues Alcon and wins £500,000 ($733,100) over patent infringement

[Halitosis]

AP Racing Wins “Record” Damages
February 1, 2016 By TheBrakeReport

£500,000 has been awarded to AP Racing, part of motorsport brake manufacturer Freni Brembo in a patent infringement case.

The Leeds-based intellectual property firm Kempner & Partners secured the “landmark” patent infringement damages for its client.

It is the highest-ever damages claim awarded by a judge at the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court.

Coventry-based AP Racing introduced and patented a range of brake calipers in 2007. Formula 3 and NASCAR adopted the mechanisms.

Rival manufacturer Alcon components introduced a similar device in 2009.

AP Racing sued Alcon for patent infringement. Having been successful in their case in 2014, they were allowed to pursue financial compensation, and stopped Alcon manufacturing more of the calipers.

The Court ruled in the favour of Kempner & Partners and AP Racing’s case.

It stated that every caliper sale by Alcon’s US distributor made after the publication of the patent, represented a lost sale for AP Racing.

Senior partner Richard Kempner said: “I believe that this is the highest level of damages ever awarded in the IPEC, and represents a resounding win for AP Racing. Naturally, they – and we – are delighted with the outcome.”

“We’re very pleased to see that AP Racing’s investment in research and development has now been recognised and safeguarded – it shows that the English legal system will not allow infringers to benefit from unlawful activity, even if the infringing sales occur in the USA.”

http://www.thebrakereport.com/brake-...ecord-damages/
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorks...d-damages.html

Alcon essentially copied AP Racing's unconventional and unique caliper designs called "Radi-Cal", which utilized asymmetrical designs for substantial weight savings without compromising strength or rigidity.

This is an ultra high-end monobloc AP Racing GT/LMP Radi-Cal caliper from the race catalogue. Machined from a solid block of billet aluminum alloy, hard anodized, and fitted with titanium ventilated pistons, carbon ducts, and dry breaks. Internally ported of course.



This is a high-end GT3/GT4 monobloc Radi-cal caliper made from forged aluminum alloy and fitted with stainless steel ventilated pistons. Internally ported as well.




Here is a Radi-Cal monobloc formula one caliper with nickel plating.

[buddalun]

Interesting. Thanks.