Asian Tech Press (Dec 09) -- The U.S. patent management firm Intellectual Ventures is suing Toyota, Honda Motor Co. and General Motors for allegedly infringing on about 12 of its patents for communications technology used in connected cars, according to people familiar with the matter.

In October, Intellectual Ventures Management LLC filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Texas, claiming that all three automakers infringed on more than 10 of its patents, including patents for short-range communications and the use of in-car Wi-Fi networks. It cited Toyota's Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury vehicles and Honda's Accord and Odyssey as infringing products.

The report notes that these lawsuits involving patents only concern the U.S. market, and even if the court rules in favor of the patent management company, they will not directly affect sales in Japan.

Intellectual Ventures, founded by a former Microsoft Corp. executive, owns more than 70,000 patents and derives its main revenue from patent licensing fees.