Bridgestone Wins Patent Infringement Lawsuit

Bridgestone Corp. has won a lawsuit against a Chinese tiremaker regarding the infringement of its design patent rights.

In May 2011, Bridgestone filed a lawsuit in the Beijing Second Intermediate People’s Court alleging that its design patent rights were violated by Guangming Tyre Group. Specifically, the court found that Bridgestone’s rights were violated by Guangming Tyre Group’s manufacturing and sales of tires using Bridgestone’s patented truck and bus tire tread patterns.

The court ruled in Bridgestone’s favor in December 2011 and ordered the Guangming Tyre Group to pay damages for the infringement. The Guangming Tyre Group did not appeal this decision, and the decision was confirmed.

In accordance with its policy of making customer safety and security its highest priority, Bridgestone said it will continue to take aggressive action in the courts and with regulators in response to the copying and infringement of its products and services.

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.