Flash Electronics files suit in US against Royal Enfield for patent infringement

Auto component manufacturer Flash Electronics India Monday said it has filed a suit against niche bike maker Royal Enfield in the US for patent infringement regarding production of an electronic component.

The Pune-based company in the lawsuit said Royal Enfield has infringed its patent on 'Regulator Rectifier Device' and method for regulating an output voltage of the same.

The company claimed the patent for its product was duly issued by the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) on February 20, 2018, after its research and development team came up with the component in 2014.

Since then, Flash Electronics has been the key manufacturer and supplier of this component to many leading two-wheeler manufacturers in India and overseas, it said in a statement.

Royal Enfield in a statement said though it has received no official communication, it has learnt of a lawsuit filed in the US by Flash Electronics Pvt Ltd. that alleges that one of the components used in some of our motorcycle models sold in the USA infringe on the plaintiff's registered patent.

"We would like to clarify that the said component is supplied to us by an external, proprietary supplier, which independently develops and owns the IP rights in the said component. The supplier denies plaintiff's claims vehemently," it said.

Flash Electronics India founder and Managing Director Sanjeev Vasdev said, "We have been trusted suppliers to leading auto manufacturers across India and overseas and it is unfortunate to have to deal with such an unexpected and unprecedented act on the part of Royal Enfield,"