News - 2024

Tokyo (February 1, 2024) - Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced it has received a favorable ruling from the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China in a lawsuit alleging infringement of the company's tire tread design rights against Chinese tire manufacturer Shandong Hawk International Rubber Industry Co., Ltd. (Hawk Tyre).

In June 2017, Bridgestone filed the lawsuit claiming that tires manufactured by Hawk Tyre utilized the tread pattern^*1 of the Bridgestone ECOPIA R102 tire for truck and bus, and that these activities were therefore in violation of the company's design rights. In January 2024, the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China ruled in favor of Bridgestone. Hawk Tyre was ordered to pay damages to the company in an amount of 300,000 Chinese yuan (approximately 6 million Japanese yen)^*2.

Bridgestone treats intellectual property as a key management resource, and it takes any unauthorized use or infringement of its patents, design rights, trademarks, or any other intellectual property very seriously. With this level of vigilance, Bridgestone is prioritizing the safety and reliability associated with its products, as well as maintaining and enhancing its hard-earned brand value. These efforts help the company deliver its corporate commitment of "Ease: Committed to bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life" as described in the "Bridgestone E8 Commitment"^*3.

1. Tread pattern refers to the design molded into the section of the tire that comes into direct contact with the road's surface.
2. Converted at a rate of 20 Japanese yen to one Chinese yuen (as of early January 2024).
3. Bridgestone established its corporate commitment, the "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" to realize its vision: "Toward 2050, Bridgestone continues to provide social value and customer value as a sustainable solutions company." This commitment will serve as the axis to drive management while earning the trust of future generations. The "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" consists of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter "E" (Energy, Ecology, Efficiency, Extension, Economy, Emotion, Ease, and Empowerment) that it will commit to creating through Bridgestone-like "purpose" and "process", together with employees, society, its partners and customers to realize a sustainable society.
   https://www.bridgestone.com/corporate/news/pdf/2022030101.pdf