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GE fails bid to dismiss Mitsubishi lawsuit

Mitsubishi says GE claims that its turbines infringed GE patent rights have been made merely to keep Mitsubishi out of the US market

The long-running legal squabble between wind turbine manufacturers GE and Mitsubishi has taken another turn this week.

A decision from the U.S. District Court’s Western District of Arkansas has gone the way of the Japanese company.

Judges denied an attempt by GE to have Mitsubishi’s lawsuit dismissed.

Mitsubishi is claiming that GE has been seeking to monopolize the market for variable-speed wind turbines in the United States through its four-year legal campaign accusing Mitsubishi of patent infringements.

Claims were filed by Mitsubishi this summer with the US District Court (see this BrighterEnergy.org story), alleging that GE had embarked on an “unlawful anticompetitive scheme” to drive out Mitsubishi suppliers from the US market with a series of “sham” lawsuits.

Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas spokeswoman Sonia Williams said yesterday: “The judge’s denial of GE’s motion will ensure that a judge will hear the facts of a case that describes how GE seeks to monopolize the market for variable speed wind turbines in the United States.

“The judge did decide to stay discovery for the present. Nevertheless, we are heartened by his suggestion that he may terminate the stay if he finds appropriate circumstances,” added Ms Williams.

The lawsuit in the Arkansas court comes as Mitsubishi plans to develop a $100 million factory in the state.

The firm is planning on creating around 300 jobs at the facility in Fort Smith (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).