The three-blink indicator system that works through one single touch of the stalk is used by a great deal of manufacturers, among which we find Ford, whose system reportedly infringes on a patent registered in 2008 by “Richard Ponziani, a former automotive design engineer for companies including General Motors Co. and Valeo SA.”
Currently used in the Blue Oval’s F-series pickups, the Fusion, the Taurus and the Edge, the clever system has been in use at Ford since 2009, with this lawsuit not change that situation one bit.
The manufacturer will most likely be allowed to keep using it, but might be asked to pay whatever the interested parties estimate they could have made had they benefitted from the full royalties behind it, or what is fair, if their accusations are proven right, that is.
Bloomberg reports that representatives of Ford have declined to comment so far, but we’ll bring you an update on this as soon as we have it.
By Andrei Nedelea
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