BMW Fends Off Michigan GPS-Navigation System Patent Lawsuit

Finnegan client BMW successfully persuaded a federal judge that the navigation systems in several of its luxury vehicles do not infringe on a patent held by Swiss patent assertion entity Beacon Navigation GmbH, thereby concluding an 11-year lawsuit.

In a detailed 17-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith wrote, “In light of the key language from the Beacon Navigation GmbH patent and the undisputed nature of the accused navigation systems, the Court finds that, on the whole, BMW is entitled to summary judgment of no direct infringement in this case.” The judge's decision came after reviewing source code from BMW navigation system supplier Harman and determining that BMW’s products follow a distinct technological path from the patent claims asserted.

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