Court rules in favor of Yamaha

A United States District Court judge has ruled in favor of Yamaha Motor Corp. USA of Cypress, Calif. in a patent infringement case.

Judge Dale. A. Kimball issued a judgment of non-infringement on March 13, finding Yamaha’s snowmobile seats did not infringe any of the patents held by the plaintiff, Boss Industries Inc. Boss Industries is an aftermarket manufacturer of snowmobile seats based in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

“Yamaha vigorously defended this lawsuit because it was firmly convinced that its snowmobile seats did not infringe on any of the snowmobile seat patents held by Boss Industries,” says Tracy H. Fowler, who represented Yamaha. “We are pleased that the Court reached the same conclusion and found that Yamaha’s snowmobile seats did not infringe any of the patents at issue.”

“From day one, Yamaha has maintained that its snowmobile seats did not infringe any of Boss’ patents,” says Yamaha’s associate general counsel Madeleine Uran. “Our company stands behind the integrity of its own patented snowmobile seats, and the Court’s ruling validates our position. Importantly, this was not a case of ‘David versus Goliath’ but one of principle, and Yamaha will always protect its patent interests against challengers of any kind.”

Boss Industries filed the original patent infringement lawsuit on May 12, 2005, which involved seats on Yamaha’s Viper snowmobile.