Toyota seems to have encountered some problems with parts of its hybrid technology in the United States.
Solomon Technologies Inc claims that it owns the US patents on the parts of the technology that Toyota is using in the Prius.
In September 2005 Solomon started court action against Toyota claiming that one of it’s patents covering drive train technology has been breached.
Solomon have now taken further action by filing a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission. The Commission has the power to determine whether or not goods imported in the United States infringe US patents and can prohibit the import of any item that does infringe on a US patent.
Toyota – Does Someone Else Own Its Hybrid Technology?