Bobcat filed a patent infringement suit against Caterpillar Tuesday in the Eastern District of Texas, alleging infringement on five of its patents.
“Bobcat Company is taking these legal actions to protect our patented technologies, defend fair competition, and safeguard the innovation and craftsmanship that have defined our company for more than 65 years,” Bobcat spokesperson Nadine Erckenbrack said in a statement. “The 14 Bobcat patents at issue enable functions like maneuverability, power, performance and efficiency. They’re foundational to our machines’ strength, versatility and precision, as well as the future of Bobcat innovation, driving advancement across our product lineup and making each machine worthy of carrying the Bobcat brand.”
Bobcat has also filed actions against Caterpillar in the U.S. International Trade Commission, a German court and the Unified Patent Court of the European Union.
The 29-page complaint filed with the Eastern District, Bobcat claims Irving-based Caterpillar has a practice of monitoring competitors and their patents.
Along with suing Caterpillar, Bobcat is also suing its dealership, HOLT.
Bobcat claims the equipment manufacturing company has infringed on its patents within the last decade that involve a tracked utility vehicle, a system and method for defining a zone of operation for a lift arm, automated shifting of hydraulic drive systems, hydraulic power prioritization and variable engine control speed.
Bobcat claims Caterpillar was late in putting a skid-steer loader on the market in 1999, about 40 years after Bobcat.
“Rather than innovate itself, CAT has chosen to take the innovations of Bobcat to attempt to unfairly compete with Bobcat in the skid-steer and broader compact equipment market,” the complaint reads. “This has unfortunately been a pattern for CAT.”
While Bobcat does not specify the exact products Caterpillar is allegedly infringing in the Eastern District complaint, it refers to them as “accused products.” Bobcat does note that “HOLT advertises that it sells the CAT skid-steer and compact track loader equipment, including the Accused Products.”
In the International Trade Commission complaint, Bobcat lists “certain skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, excavators, wheel loaders, dozers” as the “accused products.”
“CAT’s use of so many of Bobcat’s patented technologies is consistent with its pattern and practice of identifying and emulating the key features in its competitors’ products,” the complaint reads.
Bobcat is seeking injunctive relief and the recall, removal and destruction of the alleged patent-infringing products, as well as a jury trial and damages.
Judge Rodney Gilstrap has been assigned to the case.
Caterpillar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Deron Dacus of The Dacus Firm, Sean Pak, Iman Lordgooei, Nathan Hamstra, Marc Kaplan, D. James Pak and Valerie Lozano of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan are representing Bobcat.
Counsel for Caterpillar has not filed appearances at this time.
The case number is 2:25-cv-01184.