Rolls Royce sued over patent for aircraft part

In a continuing battle over engine-part designs, jet engine-maker Pratt & Whitney yesterday sued Rolls Royce, accusing the British company of misleading the US Patent and Trademark Office to obtain a patent.
Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of United Technologies, said in its lawsuit filed in the US District Court in Hartford that Rolls-Royce's patent was invalid and unenforceable. The East Hartford-based company accused Rolls Royce of unlawfully using its patent and taking other actions to harm Pratt & Whitney.
Rolls Royce did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
In August, Rolls Royce filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against United Technologies, alleging that fan blades in a United Technologies geared-turbofan engine infringed on a Rolls-Royce patent. Pratt & Whitney denied the accusation.
"As one front in its campaign, Rolls-Royce has resorted to fraud and deceit to obtain a patent," Pratt & Whitney said in its lawsuit. "Rolls Royce is now attempting to use its fraudulently procured patent to wrongfully attack United Technologies Corp/Pratt & Whitney."
It said Rolls Royce was envious of the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan and "fears its market potential."
United Technologies has spent US$1 billion ($1.3 billion) over 20 years to develop its geared turbofan jet engine. Pratt & Whitney said the engine significantly improved fuel efficiency, generated fewer carbon emissions, cut airlines' fuel costs and produced less noise than other aircraft engines.
The engines would be installed on Bombardier and Mitsubishi planes, and Airbus would consider it, among others, on its A320 if it proceeded with the programme, Pratt & Whitney said in its lawsuit.
Analyst Matt Collins, at Edward Jones, said Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan was United Technologies' highest-profile product "so they need to see this move forward". If Pratt & Whitney sold its engine to Airbus, which had said it would make a decision soon, "it would allow Pratt to make a major comeback," Collins said.
Rolls Royce was rejected three times by the US Patent & Trademark Office in its application for a fan stage, which was a part of a jet engine, Pratt & Whitney said. Rolls Royce eventually - and fraudulently - obtained a patent, which it was now using against Pratt & Whitney, it said.
Bob Saia, a Pratt & Whitney vice-president, said Rolls Royce's lawsuit would not have an impact on customers or its engine programme. AP