BRP files lawsuit against Arctic Cat

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), manufacturer of Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, has filed lawsuits in Canada and the United States claiming that Arctic Cat has infringed various Canadian and American patents for the REV platform used in BRP’s lines of snowmobiles.

BRP claims in documents filed in the Federal Court of Canada and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois that Arctic Cat knowingly used certain innovations protected by BRP’s patents, without permission. BRP is requesting that Arctic Cat halt production of the infringing models, that it destroy those in stock, and is seeking monetary compensation for the infringement.

“In recent years we have seen our competitors attempt to copy an increasing number of our inventions and designs,” says Martin Langelier, vice-president, General Counsel and Secretary. “Innovation being at the core of BRP’s strategy, we will not tolerate infringement of our intellectual property rights. We are, as a result, taking legal action to protect them.”

BRP introduced the new REV chassis in 2002, helping the company’s Ski-Doo brand regain the number one position in the industry.