Waymo and Uber are both in a heated battle over autonomous technology patents, but things seem to be going in the right direction for Uber as Waymo decided to drop most of its Patent Claims.
The decision by Waymo to add patent claims in its lawsuit came as a surprise to many. Google parent Alphabet, prides itself in limit copyright claim lawsuits, hence the reason why no had expected Waymo to venture down this route.
What is Waymo’s case all about?
The majority of the case according to reports is primarily about trade secrets. Waymo claims Uber stole valuable trade secrets when a former employee, Anthony Levandowsk, downloaded 14,000 worth of files to his personal computer before leaving the company.
After joining with Uber, Levandowsk took the position to lead Uber into creating its first driverless car. In late May of 2017, Uber fired him, and since then, he has besought his constitutional rights against self-implication. Furthermore, Levandowsk has refused to testify, making it difficult for Uber to defend itself in court.
William Alsup, a district judge in the United States who resides in San Francisco, had asked Waymo to narrow down its 100 trade secrets theft claims to fewer than 10 for delivery to a jury. Furthermore, Judge Alsup was the one who asked Waymo to drop the patent aspect of the case.
In a recent statement, Uber said Waymo dropping most of its patent claims is a clear sign the company has over promised and has now found itself in a position where it cannot deliver.
Uber went on to add that Waymo has found no evidence of the alleged theft of 14,000 files, and has also realized that Uber’s LIDAR design is very different. In facing this painful truth, Waymo has decided to speak about conspiracies not entrenched in facts, says Uber.
What is LIDAR?
It’s an important component that makes it possible for autonomous vehicles to see their surroundings. Moreover, LIDAR is the primary reason this case is going before the courts.
In Waymo’s defense, the company said it dropped three patent claims because they are linked to a tech known as spider LIDAR, and Uber no longer uses it.
However, the fourth patented technology is called Fuji, and that’s something Uber continues to use despite the lawsuit.
Apparently, Uber assured the court system that it would no longer use three of the patents, which is the reason why Waymo has narrowed down its claim. Still, Waymo is covering its end as the company sought the right to reestablish the removed patents in court should the situation changes.
As for the future, a Waymo spokesperson says the company is looking forward to the trial, a possible sign of confidence.