[Invest&Law] Breaking Alliances... Autonomous Vehicle Patent Dispute

Parts Supplier vs IT Company
HL Mando Camera Module
Patent Infringement Damages Lawsuit
First Trial: MahaAuto Lost
Second Trial Verdict Set for September
Industry: "Commonly Used Technology"
Market Impact Under Close Watch

The industry is closely watching the outcome as Korean companies clash over a core technology patent that enables 'Lane Following Assist (LFA)'?a key feature required for autonomous vehicles, the hottest topic in the automotive sector.

Particular attention is being paid to this dispute because it is taking place between an information technology (IT) company that develops the underlying software and an automotive parts company that integrates the technology into vehicle bodies. Since collaboration between IT companies and automakers is essential for autonomous vehicles, some expect the result of this dispute to have a significant impact on the industry's future.

According to industry and legal sources on July 23, the IT SME 'MahaAuto', which develops software, has recently filed a damages lawsuit against the auto parts company 'HL Mando' for alleged patent infringement, and the case is currently under judicial review. The Patent Court is scheduled to deliver its second-instance verdict on September 18. In the first-instance verdict delivered on July 11 last year, MahaAuto lost the case.

It has been reported that both sides engaged in intense legal arguments during the final hearing held on July 17. The two parties submitted over 200 pieces of technical documentation and precedents to the court to support their respective claims. MahaAuto argued that HL Mando unlawfully used its patented 'vehicle steering angle estimation' technology in a camera module designed for installation in autonomous vehicles. This technology is characterized by its method of calculating the vehicle's steering angle using physical quantities such as lateral deviation (x), horizontal distance (d), and wheelbase (L). MahaAuto pointed out that HL Mando used this technology in its camera module without separate authorization. In response, HL Mando denied any infringement of the patent.

Industry observers believe that, given the widespread use of this technology in autonomous vehicles, the legal definitions and judgments regarding the technology's practicality and validity in the court's September ruling could have a significant impact on the future market.