Michigan Judge Clears BMW of Infringing Navigation Patent

Finnegan client BMW secured a critical legal victory as a Michigan federal judge ruled that its GPS navigation systems do not infringe on a 1990s patent, ending a decade-long legal battle. The patent in question, now held by Swiss firm Beacon Navigation GmbH, has been the subject of litigation against 38 different companies since 2011.

U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith granted BMW's request for summary judgment, concluding that the German automaker's navigation systems are not in violation of the patent. "BMW remained the only automaker that refused Beacon's settlement demands,"  Finnegan partner Lionel Lavenue told Law360 via email.

The judge's order detailed that “in light of the claim language of the asserted claims 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.” He also ruled in favor of BMW on induced infringement claims. Addressing Beacon's arguments, Judge Goldsmith noted that “no reasonable jury applying the plain and ordinary meaning of 'current position' could find that the predicted position one second in the future is a current position."

The ruling brings a conclusion to Beacon's litigation efforts against BMW.

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