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4 August 2017Patents

Wind turbine dispute not blowing over as GE takes legal action

GE has sued a wind turbine manufacturer for patent infringement relating to the technology that powers its machines.

The complaint (link) was filed at the US District Court for the Central District of California on Monday, July 31.

GE accused Vestas Wind Systems of infringing a patent that addresses a problem with power grid-connected wind turbines.

Power grids naturally experience short-term voltage dips due to large electrical loads, lightning strikes, or short circuits, the suit said.

GE’s patent, US number 7,629,705, attempts to solve this by “ensuring an electric power system is configured so that the turbines keep moving” in tough conditions.

The patent was granted in 2009.

GE accused the Danish company of using the technology since then in a range of wind farms including in the US states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and California.

It added that the infringement was wilful and that Vestas Wind Systems’ “continuing acts of infringement are irreparably harming and causing damage to GE”.

GE is seeking a judgment that the infringement was wilful, injunctive relief, damages, triple damages and a jury trial.

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Patents
26 June 2019   General Electric and Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems have agreed to amicably settle all pending patent litigation between them and establish a cross-licensing deal.