ZF, ArvinMeritor to continue selling FreedomLine transmission

In response to the April 7 U.S. International Trade Commission decision that the ZF FreedomLine transmission infringes an Eaton patent, ZF and ArvinMeritor announced the transmission software has been redesigned to comply with the ruling. The companies plan to continue the sale of FreedomLine transmissions in North America. “Claim 15 [the infringing patent] pertains to a non-critical aspect of the transmission, which is not integral to its operation,” said Tom Gosnell, president of commercial vehicle systems for ArvinMeritor. ArvinMeritor filed a patent infringement lawsuit in North Carolina last year against Eaton, alleging infringement of its U.S. patent covering torque prediction. That case is pending.