Patented technologies to prevent electric vehicle battery fires

  Recently in Korea, a large fire broke out in an apartment parking lot due to an electric vehicle fire. As many as 140 cars were burned, and more than 100 residents were forced to evacuate their homes to temporary residential housing due to the toxic gas generated by the fire and the power and water outages.

Apartment parking lot where an electric vehicle fire broke out
<source: ohmynews, https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/047/0002443110?sid=102>

  There have been electric vehicle fires before, but this fire is said to be the most severe in terms of the scale of damage and impact. Is there a technology to prevent electric vehicle battery fires? In this issue, we will look at some of the technologies available for this.

Technology to extinguish fires in the battery pack itself

  In the case of this Mercedes-Benz vehicle, the fire that started in the car was not extinguished first, so it spread into a larger fire. As electric vehicle battery fires are frequent, it seems necessary to establish a function and system that can extinguish fires on its own in the early stages when a fire occurs. Among the existing patented technologies, there are technologies that can extinguish battery fires on their own in the vehicle.

  First, this is the technology of LG Energy Solution, a representative electric vehicle battery manufacturer in Korea. Recent battery modules contain a large number of secondary batteries to improve energy density, so if an explosion occurs in one cell, there is a risk that other cells may explode in a chain reaction. Therefore, LG Energy Solution developed a battery pack that can effectively suppress the thermal runaway chain reaction from a battery module where a fire occurred to other battery modules to improve this problem.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0106396, Battery pack with enhanced fire safety

  This battery pack has a cooling pipe that supplies coolant, and when a danger detection signal is received from a fire detection sensor, the valve opens to quickly flow coolant into the battery pack.

  SK On, a leading electric vehicle battery company along with LG Energy Solution in Korea, has also developed a technology that can prevent fires in batteries themselves. This invention is a battery pack that includes a firewall that can control the heat transfer phenomenon due to battery fire. It was also developed to prevent the problem of heat from a battery module that caught fire from being transferred to other cells. To solve this problem, SK On chose to build a heat-absorbing firewall in the battery pack.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2020-0093791, Sandwich fire wall and battery pack comprising the same

  The heat-absorbing firewall contains various flame retardants such as brominated flame retardants and chlorine flame retardants, and is said to absorb heat at about 110-150 degrees with a thickness of 0.12-3 mm. In fact, the technology to place a thermal runaway prevention sheet between battery cells has already been commercialized with conventional technology, but it has been pointed out that its effectiveness is low because it has a wide range and only exhibits heat absorption at very high temperatures of 400 degrees or more.

  This heat-absorbing firewall of SK On consists of an electrode assembly in which the cathode and anode are alternately laminated with a separator as the boundary, and a pouch outer material that surrounds the electrode assembly. Therefore, it can cover the fire heat more densely and respond to relatively low and medium fire temperatures, thereby solving the above problem.

The following is Hyundai Mobis' technology.

  Hyundai Mobis has also developed a battery system with its own fire extinguishing function. This system is equipped with a fire extinguishing fluid storage unit between multiple battery cells so that the extinguishing fluid can be released directly to the ignition point of the battery cell in the event of a fire.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2018-0004239, Battery system with fire-off function

 The battery pack is equipped with a fire-extinguishing fluid circulation device that maintains the pressure of the fire-extinguishing fluid in the event of a fire, enabling continuous supply to the ignition point. It is a useful system that can effectively prevent a chain fire by quickly extinguishing a fire.

Technology to prevent fire with battery case and cover

  Technologies that prevent fire with the outer case or cover, not the battery itself, have also been filed. Sung Woo Hitech, a partner of Hyundai Motor Company, has developed a battery case and battery module pack equipped with a fire extinguishing function. It is said that the battery case is equipped with a fire extinguishing agent to prevent thermal runaway or fire in the battery module.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0155614, Battery case with fire extinguishing function, battery module and battery pack including the same

  This battery is equipped with a fire extinguishing agent inside the double-structured battery case. In the event of a fire caused by thermal runaway, the fire extinguishing agent is sprayed to quickly suppress the fire. In addition, the fire extinguishing agent is directly released through the melted area (fused site?) due to the rise in temperature, preventing the battery management system (BMS) from malfunctioning.

  The technology jointly developed by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors is also notable. This technology also prevents fire using the battery cover. To be precise, it is a suffocation extinguishing technology that tightly wraps the battery and blocks the oxygen supply to the furnace that can cause a fire. The battery cover is located under the battery cell, the cover opens from the bottom up to quickly cover the fire when a fire is detected.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2022-0137221, Fire extinguishing system for battery for vehicle

  Electric vehicle batteries mainly use lithium cathodes rather than carbon, so if exposed to oxygen in the event of a fire, the possibility of oxidation or explosion is very high. The two companies focused on this and devised a method to prevent fire by blocking oxygen.

Technology to extinguish fire from outside the vehicle

  If the above technologies are to extinguish fires inside the vehicle, there is also technology to extinguish fires from outside the electric vehicle. This one is a ‘fire extinguishing system that responds quickly to fires in electric vehicle batteries’ developed by Renault Korea Motors. This technology is designed that when a fire extinguishing cap is installed on the outside of the vehicle and fire extinguishing water is injected from outside the vehicle, the fire extinguishing water is directly sprayed onto the battery pack through the fire extinguishing pipe.

wipsglobal.com
KR10-2023-0165124, The fire extinguishing system responding to fire in electric vehicle battery

  The feature of this technology is that it can spray water directly on the battery pack where the fire started. The downside is that it requires external fire extinguishing water, so it seems difficult if the sprinkler does not work or if no one discovers the fire.

A thorough technological improvement is needed

  As the electric vehicle distribution rate is rapidly increasing, the recent electric vehicle fire in Korea has caused even greater shock. It has gone beyond a simple fire and has led to a public debate. In order to prevent future disasters, the cause of electric vehicle battery fires must be identified and thorough technological improvement must be followed.

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Strong assertive sneakers, Sneaker design disputes

 

The era of ‘sneakers with strong individuality’ is more important than ever

  When you choose sneakers, what do you consider most important? There are various factors to consider, such as comfort, price, design, and brand. However, with the development of SNS, the perception that ‘consumption or taste represents me’ has become stronger among consumers. As a result, ‘visibility’ such as design or brand elements have a stronger effect on purchasing decisions these days.

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That sock-like shoe, Balenciaga is not the only one?

  A few years ago, In Korea, sneakers that looked like socks swept the market. It was the ‘Speed ​​Series’ introduced by the luxury brand Balenciaga. The item led the ‘socks sneaker’ trend with its one-piece design made of knit material, and it is still being released in various lineups to this day.

Balenciaga's 'Speed' series released in various designs to date
<source: https://www.balenciaga.com/ko-kr>

  The design that makes this product recognizable from 100 meters away as 'Oh, that's Balenciaga' is the unique knit material and the bold and masculine line of the sole, so Balenciaga has registered this part as a design IP and is protected.

wipsglobal.com
Balenciaga's registered design patent, D968055 S1

  Of course, it was so popular and expensive that many later products with similar images appeared. The representative SPA brand ZARA introduced various sock sneaker lines and gained popularity. Although Balenciaga focused on modifying the sole part protected by the design rights, the overall feel was similar to that of a sock sneaker, so it was once nicknamed 'Zapidrunner' (similar to Speedrunner).

Socks sneakers models released by ZARA
<source: zara.com>

  There are countless cases where similar designs have become issues. There are also many cases that do not stop at issues and lead to lawsuits and disputes. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Hermes and Sketchers' sneakers, do they have similar soles?

  Even Hermes, a high-end luxury brand, could not avoid lawsuits. The 'Éclair' and 'Envol' sneakers released by Hermes in 2022 attracted attention for their uniquely shaped soles. The unique wave shape, like waves crossing each other, combined with Hermes' signature color, orange, made the design even more striking. However, this design became the subject of a lawsuit.

(left) Hermes 'Envol' and 'Eclair' <source: Hermes.com>
(right) Skechers 'Go Walk' series 'Massage Fit' <source: skechers.com>

  Skechers, an American outdoor brand and famous for running shoes, claimed that this Hermes design infringed on two design patents (D925183, D965263) for the ‘Massage Fit’ wavy sole of its Go Walk walking shoes.

wipsglobal.com
Comparison of Hermes and Skechers design drawings

  In fact, Skechers' registered designs D925183 and D965263 describe the characteristics of the sole bottom in the claims, and the registered drawings also express the sole part in solid lines and specify the scope of protection. In response, Skechers claimed that Hermes' shoe soles were "substantially the same" as those of its own products and requested monetary damages and an injunction against infringement. Fortunately, this lawsuit (1:22-cv-08862), which began in October 2022, ended in May 2023 when Skechers and Hermes reached a confidential settlement and the plaintiff Skechers voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit.

Nike VS BAPE, a long-standing dispute

Nike Dunk Low and BAPE SK8 STA
<source: lesitedelasneaker.com>

  Nike is also in a lawsuit with Japanese street fashion brand BAPE (A Bathing Ape). BAPE, founded in 1993, has gained widespread popularity not only in Japan but also in North America and Europe, and has become recognized as a brand that symbolizes hip-hop. There are many factors that led to BAPE's fame, but among them, sneakers with designs that seemed to pay homage to Nike were also loved by many. That 'similar feeling' became a problem.

Street fashion brand BAPE
<source: sneakernews.com>

The beginning of the plagiarism controversy (2009)

  Nike seems to have sought a friendly solution to the plagiarism controversy that had been going on since 2005 (when BAPE began selling in the US), by proposing a licensing agreement for the 'BAPE STA' model, which was controversial for being similar to the Air Force. However, after several years without much progress, the scale of the infringement seems to have grown rapidly around 2021, and in 2023, Nike finally responded with a lawsuit, escalating the conflict between the two companies.

Nike Sues BAPE (January 2023)

  Nike filed a trademark infringement lawsuit (1:23-cv-00660) in January 2023, claiming that BAPE's flagship sneakers imitate Nike's iconic designs, including the Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1, and Dunks.

  Nike’s position can be understood if you look at the actual trademark registrations and actual comparison photos (below) included in the actual submission documents.

Nike and BAPE product comparison submitted by Nike in the lawsuit
<source: vitallaw.com>

BAPE refutes lawsuit

  However, BAPE bravely(?) refutes Nike's lawsuit. BAPE's attorney pointed out that Nike's claims did not sufficiently understand its sneakers, the BAPE STA, and several trade dress elements, and rejected the request to stop trademark infringement.

*Trade dress is the characteristics of the visual appearance of a product or its packaging (or even the design of a building) that signify the source of the product to consumers. Trade dress is an aspect of trademark law, which is a form of intellectual property protection law. (Wikipedia)

Nike opposes BAPE’s motion to dismiss

  However, Nike once again emphasized the validity of its existing protected trademark rights and the similarity of the BAPE model. They opposed BAPE’s motion to dismiss, arguing that the submitted evidence was sufficient from a trade dress protection perspective.

End of lawsuit, Nike and BAPE reach agreement (March 2024)

  The court sided with Nike and determined that Nike provided strong grounds for the validity of the registered trademark rights. Nike’s registered trademark was deemed sufficient to establish the characteristics of the product’s appearance, and BAPE’s argument that a more specific lawsuit was needed was dismissed.

Decision of Nike and BAPE lawsuit
<source: vitallaw.com>

  With this, Nike's trademark infringement lawsuit against BAPE that has been ongoing since January 2023 has come to an end. BAPE has agreed to modify the design of BAPE STA, which is similar to Nike's Air Force 1, and Sk8 STA, which is similar to the Dunk, and to stop selling BAPE STA Mid, Court STA, and Court STA High models.

Surviving as a leader in the fashion industry

  So far, we have looked at several cases of disputes surrounding sneaker designs. In addition to the cases covered today, there are countless cases of theft, copying, disputes, and lawsuits in the fashion industry. In the fashion industry, it is not easy to prevent and judge disputes because the trend cycle is short, making it easy to imitate and produce counterfeit products, and the criteria for plagiarism can be ambiguous. Also, the line between plagiarism and re-creation is blurred due to the concepts of ‘homage*’ or ‘parody.’ Therefore, these cases are important references in that they reflect the trends of the time and change the public and industry’s perception of intellectual property rights. Of course, it can also be a way for ordinary people who are unfamiliar with IP to consume more healthily. We, WIPS will continue to diligently tell you about design dispute stories that will continue as long as fashion and trends exist.

*Homage: It’s a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic. The term is often used in the arts, where one author or artist shows respect to another by allusion or imitation. <Source: Wikipedia>

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[International IP Briefing] EP, US

 

EP

 European Patent Office holds meeting with Samsung SDI

 On July 17, 2024, the European Patent Office (EPO) held a meeting with Samsung SDI, a battery specialist subsidiary of the Samsung Group, to strengthen dialogue with users.

(Background)

 In 2023, Samsung recorded approximately 4,760 patent applications, ranking second in the EPO's 2023 patent application statistics (Patent Index 2023)1). Samsung SDI with over 30,700 employees worldwide, provides solutions in the rechargeable lithium-ion battery field through a variety of products ranging from cells, racks, and electronic materials.

(Details)

 This meeting is part of a series of meetings planned by the EPO to strengthen its dialogue with users under the EPO’s ‘Quality Action Plan’ initiative.

 Through these meetings, the EPO seeks to directly engage users to receive information and help identify areas requiring improvement.

 The Samsung SDI delegation expresses gratitude for the opportunity this meeting provided to strengthen relations with the EPO and discuss future plans.

 During the meeting, Samsung SDI reaffirmed that EPO is continuing its efforts to engage users and its will to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

 Meanwhile, an information session was also held for EPO examiners on the latest battery technology, a key component of electric vehicles in which the EPO is interested.

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(In addition)

 In an interview, Samsung SDI Legal Team Managing Director Ha Young-ki emphasized that companies’ interest in the European intellectual property system is growing again due to the implementation of the Unitary Patent system and the Unified Patent Court (UPC). He also stated that companies with a lot of production activities in Europe, such as Samsung SDI, are actively considering adjusting their intellectual property (IP) strategies.

 He also added that the quality of work of EPO examiners is recognized, and that this is of great help to applicants in securing strong patent rights that can respond to invalidation trials or infringement lawsuits.

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1) For the original text of these statistics, please refer to the following link: https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/statistics/patent-index-2023 

 

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US

Recording Industry Association of America files copyright infringement lawsuit against two AI music generation service companies

 On June 24, 2024, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that they had filed a lawsuit against each Suno and Udio, an artificial intelligence (AI) music creating service providers, on charges of unauthorized copying and infringement of copyrighted music.

(Details)

 Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings Inc., and Warner Records Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the three record labels) are the three music companies that own the rights to the music that Suno and Udio infringed.

 RIAA filed a lawsuit on behalf of the three record labels above, claiming that the AI ​​service operated by defendants Suno and Udio violated copyright to train generative AI models by using artists' music without permission.

 The lawsuit filed against Suno is governed by the District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the lawsuit filed against Udio is governed by the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

∙ The cases is seeking;

①declarations that the two services infringed plaintiffs’ copyrighted sound recordings;② injunction barring the services from infringing plaintiffs’ copyrighted sound recordings in the future; and ③ damages for the infringements that have already occurred.

(With reference to above)

 RIAA President and CEO Mitch Glazier said : “The music community has embraced AI and we are already partnering and collaborating with responsible developers to build sustainable AI tools centered on human creativity that put artists and songwriters in charge”. “But we can only succeed if developers are willing to work together with us. Unlicensed services like Suno and Udio that claim it’s ‘fair’ to copy an artist’s life’s work and exploit it for their own profit without consent or pay set back the promise of genuinely innovative AI for us all.”

  In response, Mikey Shulman, CEO of Suno, said in a statement shared with Forbes, “its technology is designed to generate completely new outputs, not to memorize and regurgitate pre-existing content”.

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