Bajaj, Hero Honda kick start price war

Unleashing a price war in the entry-level motorcycle segment ahead of the festive season, country’s leading bike makers Hero Honda Motors Limited and Bajaj Auto Limited have reduced prices of their 100 cc products by Rs 2,020 and Rs 4,000 respectively.

Post the festive season discount, the 100 cc Bajaj Platina would be available for Rs 29,990 (ex-showroom) down from its usual price of Rs 33,990. “Our competitors are offering 100 cc bikes at reduced prices during the festive season. The discount on Platina is being offered to counter competition in the segment,” Bajaj GM Marketing Amit Nandi said.

He said the discount is applicable on Platina bookings made from Saturday and would be offered till the end of this month. “The discount offer would extend till October 31 and is applicable from bookings made on October 13. We have not taken a call on whe-ther to extend this discou-nt beyond October 31,” Mr Nadi added.

TVS: Cancel Bajaj’s patent

There were no signs of let up in the war of words between Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor over use of patented technology in their motorcycles, with the Chennai-based company on tuesday claiming that it had delivered a copy of its patent revocation application to its rival. "As a matter of fair game, we have delivered to Bajaj Auto today a copy of patent revocation application, which we had filed with the Appellate Board of Patent Office in Chennai in August," TVS counsel Lakshmi Kumaran said.
He said although the revocation application was filed in August, it takes time for the Apellate Board to send notices and hence, TVS took upon itself to inform BAL about the same. However, it could not be confirmed from Bajaj Auto whether the company has received the revocation application.
Meanwhile, Bajaj CEO (two-wheeler) S. Sridhar said in a statement the company continued to be "anxious and prepared to defend its DTSi patent in the event of any attempted infringement, as it has done successfully in recent years". "This will be clearly and finally evident only if and when an offending product is actually launched," it said.

Bajaj, TVS patent tiff intensifies

The face-off between Bajaj Auto and TVS Motors heated up on Monday with allegations and counter-allegations by the two companies through the media. On Monday Bajaj clarified that it will defend its patent on the DTS-i (Digital Twin Spark Ignition) technology — christened Bajaj DTS-i used in small automotive engines. A press note issued by Mr S. Sridhar, CEO 2Wheelers, Bajaj Auto Ltd. Pune, said: "Bajaj accords the highest importance to its IP portfolio and will defend the same. Bajaj cautions against any attempt to infringe it," Mr Sridhar’s statement comes after TVS on Sunday said that it would sue Bajaj for allegedly stealing its patent.
Mr Sridhar in his note explained that the company had applied for the patent for the Indian market on July 16, 2002, and was granted approval via patent number 195904 on July 7, 2005. If there exists any application for revocation of this patent, details of the same are not known to Bajaj. Similarly, he said that the company is also expecting approval of its international patent applications in various foreign countries subsequent to its application PCT/IN03/000348 dated October 30, 2003.
Recently, the Chinese manufacturer Taian Chiran Machinery Co Ltd and its Sri Lankan distributor were instructed by the high court of Western Province, Sri Lanka, to withdraw their copy of the Bajaj Pulsar with DTS-i from the market. Bajaj has been anxious that failing domestic manufacturers may in an act of desperation adopt similar methods in India. TVS Motor in a late night press rejoinder expressed surprise at "the wild and reckless allegations made by Bajaj Auto Ltd" through the media charging TVS Motor with infringement of their intellectual property rights.
Rebutting the malicious charge, TVS Motor said it "had forthwith put Bajaj on notice that the accusation is libelous, asking them to withdraw the reckless charge or face law suit." Shortly stated, TVS said: "The patent rights claimed by Bajaj Auto Ltd for its Internal Combustion Engine is not for "twin spark plugs" per se. It is for the use of twin spark plugs in two valve engine. On the other hand, TVS Motor’s technology is a combination of its in-house developed innovative technology by name "VTi", and use of AVL’s patented "3 Valves" technology in engine."

TVS may sue Bajaj Auto for defamation

TVS Motor Company will file a defamation case against "the wild and irresponsible allegation" made by Bajaj Auto Ltd, accusing the former for breaching Bajaj’s patent rights. TVS will file a suit against Bajaj for damages of Rs 250 crores.
TVS on Sunday said in a press statement that the accusation was a malicious attempt to tarnish the fair name of the corporate that belongs to the TVS group which has "consistently maintained the highest standards of ethics in business."
The Chennai-headquartered company said that "unless the malicious allegations are withdrawn and regrets expressed," by the second largest two-wheeler manufacturer Bajaj Auto, the company would file a suit for damages of Rs 250 crores. "This action does not preclude TVS Motor from initiating such other action as the law may permit including criminal action against officials of Bajaj Auto Ltd who used libellous language against TVS Motor," the statement said.
TVS Motor, the third largest two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, said: "The allegation of Bajaj Auto is ridiculous and can be established by their own admission that the invention in issue namely, the application of twins spark plug is a known technology extensively in use all over the world for several decades and therefore, in patent law, it is a known prior art."
"The patent that Bajaj claims, is not for the use of twin spark plug technology per se, but for the use of the two spark plug in a two-valve IC engine with a detachably fixed sleeve," the statement added.