Tern Bicycles has announced that it has successfully enforced its intellectual property rights and reached an agreement with Asahi Cycle Co. Ltd, of Japan regarding a bike that Tern alleges infringes a Tern frame design patent. Under the terms of the agreement, Asahi has agreed to pay licensing fees and discontinue sales once its stock is depleted.
“At Tern, we invest heavily in design, engineering, and innovation to deliver a better riding experience for our customers,” said Tern’s Chief Legal Officer, Chris Neumeyer. “We protect that investment by registering broad patents, trademarks, and registered designs worldwide, as well as actively monitoring markets.”
The frame design patent in question covers the Tern Verge folding bike, which Tern has registered in Japan and multiple countries. Asahi had sourced the frame from a third-party supplier in China.
Tern will continue to monitor its registered designs across global markets and take appropriate action where unauthorised use is identified, regardless of whether the products are developed in-house or sourced from third parties. Companies remain responsible for ensuring that the products they bring to market do not infringe on existing intellectual property rights.
“We don’t believe that Asahi intentionally infringed on our patent,” added Neumeyer. “And we appreciate them working with us to quickly and amicably reach an agreement.”
