Don't sell Flame High Court tells TVS

The Madras High Court yesterday ordered TVS not to book, distribute or sell the recently launched Flame. Bajaj had filed a patent infringement suit against TVS, and it looks like they currently hold the upper hand as far as the case goes. The court was adjourned till 3rd January 2008.

It all started when TVS showcased its new bikes to the media in September this year. The bike features two spark plugs and three valves, which TVS claimed was in no way infringing on Bajaj’s patent. They later also filed a Rs. 250 crore defamation suit against Bajaj in Bombay High Court and another one in Madras.

I personally think that TVS didn’t really think things through. Bajaj had already patented the use of two spark plugs in a small capacity engine. Now the patent can be revoked if TVS are able to pull it off. But until that happens I don’t think they will be allowed to sell the bike. The use of twin spark plugs is not new in fact Honda uses the two-plug format in the City. Internationally Ducati have used the same.

Also TVS also is becoming the bad guy in all this. They already knew of the patent and what it was all about, and now it seems they were only trying to take advantage of a technology perfected by their rival. If TVS wins this case, then Bajaj becomes the good guy and TVS becomes the bully. If Bajaj win, then they still become the good guys and TVS becomes the bad guy with a bike they can’t sell.

So it seems that it doesn’t matter if Bajaj win or loose, they will get all the publicity for their technology, while TVS will become the one’s who stole the technology. And I’m quite sure they don’t want any negative publicity.

The silver lining in all this mud slinging is that now the manufacturers are fighting over technology, something you expect the Japanese to do. After all both two-wheeler giants have their own R&D and great products to show for it. We can only expect new technology and better products to come into the market from both the rivals. Bajaj recently launched the GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) in their three-wheeler.