Griffith Hack Clean & Sustainable Technologies

The Wall Street Journal quoted Griffith Hack patent attorney Justin Blows:

Toyota’s patent-filing strategy has made it far too risky to copy the Prius without Toyota’s blessing.

Since it started developing the gas-electric Prius more than a decade ago, Toyota has kept its attorneys just as busy as its engineers, meticulously filing for patents on more than 2,000 systems and components for its best-selling hybrid. Its third-generation Prius, which hit showrooms in May, accounts for about half of those patents alone.

Toyota’s goal: to make it difficult for other auto makers to develop their own hybrids without seeking licensing from Toyota, as Ford Motor Co. already did to make its Escape hybrid and Nissan MotorCo. has for its Altima hybrid.

Read more about Toyota’s patent strategy in relation to Hybrid vehicles in the WSJ article here.

Read Justin’s other blogs on Toyota’s patents here.