This is the latest action in Michelin's continuing fight to protect its proprietary designs & technology investments. Michelin refuses to tolerate look-alike tires or retreads that trade on Michelin expertise & profit from Michelin innovation.
In the suit, Michelin is demanding that Nortop immediately stop importing, distributing & selling treads that infringe Michelin patents. Additionally, Michelin is demanding a recall of the look-alike treads in inventories or in transit to stop any future use of the illegal treads.
Patent protection is a cornerstone of the North American business economy. Companies such as Michelin rely on patents to recognize their research & development efforts, protecting their investment in advancing technology. The look-alike treads distributed by Nortop copy Michelin designs but are not manufactured or tested under Michelin quality standards & not applied using Michelin Retread Technologies (MRT) processes.
