The patent infringement lawsuit against Ford's 2005 Mustang has ended with Ford taking a license to U.S. Patent No. 5,975,728 for "Method and Apparatus for Providing User Selectable Multi-Color Automobile Instrument Panel Illumination."
Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) March 10, 2005 -- Inventor/Attorney Frank Weyer announced today that his patent infringement lawsuit against Ford's 2005 Ford Mustang has settled, with Ford taking a license to Mr. Weyer's patent allowing Ford to use the patented invention in the Mustang. Mr. Weyer filed the patent infringement lawsuit against Ford on October 19, 2004, contending that the "MyColor (TM)" option in the 2005 Ford Mustang that allows the driver to change the color of the instrument panel lighting infringed his U.S. Patent No. No. 5,975,728 for "Method and Apparatus for Providing User Selectable Multi-Color Automobile Instrument Panel Illumination" Mr. Weyer filed the patent application in November 1997, and the patent issued in November 1999. In December 1999, Mr. Weyer had sent a copy of the patent to Ford, but received no response.
The settlement was reached at a meeting in Detroit between Mr. Weyer and Ford's in-house and outside patent counsel. The terms of the settlement are confidential, but Mr. Weyer said that he was impressed with the professionalism and integrity of Ford's attorneys. "In both my representation of myself and in my representation of other inventors, I have dealt with large companies who believe might makes right and who believe that they can simply ignore the intellectual property rights of small companies and individuals. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Ford has a corporate policy of respecting third party's valid patent and other intellectual property rights."
The settlement means that Ford is free to sell and deliver 2005 Ford Mustangs with the popular "Interior Upgrade Package" (or "IUP") that includes the "MyColor (TM)" instrument panel lighting system. Mr. Weyer, who owns a classic 1969 Mustang, said the settlement is a win/win for Ford and its customers. "I have received e-mails from many Mustang enthusiasts who were concerned that my lawsuit would delay delivery of their 2005 Mustangs. Some even asked whether I would grant them individual patent licenses so that they could receive their car. I am happy to tell them that the matter has been resolved, and Ford is free to deliver Mustangs with the "MyColor (TM)" system.
Mr. Weyer is happy to see the popularity of his invention, and hopes that it will spread to other models besides the Ford Mustang. "The popularity of the "MyColor (TM)" option in the Ford Mustang shows that this is a feature that drivers like and want. I expect that other car manufacturers will want to offer a similar option as well. If they do, I think they will find, as Ford did, that I am willing to grant patent licenses on very reasonable terms."
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