yamaha defends snowmobile seat patent infringement

U.S. District Court Judge Dale A. Kimball issued a judgment of non-infringement on March 13, 2008, in favor of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. The Court found that Yamaha's snowmobile seats did not infringe any of the patents at issue held by Boss Industries, Inc., the plaintiff and an aftermarket manufacturer of snowmobile seats based in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

"From day one, Yamaha has maintained that its snowmobile seats did not infringe any of Boss' patents," stated Madeleine Uran, Yamaha's Associate General Counsel and based in Cypress, Calif. "Our company stands behind the integrity of its own patented snowmobile seats, and the Court's ruling validates our position. Importantly, this was not a case of 'David versus Goliath' but one of principle, and Yamaha will always protect its patent interests against challengers of any kind."

The original patent infringement lawsuit was filed on May 12, 2005, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, Central Division over snowmobile seats and snowmobile replacement seats on Yamaha's Viper snowmobile.