Bobcat Says Caterpillar Stole Patented Technologies

By: Joey Harris
Source: The Bismarck Tribune, N.D. (TNS)

One of North Dakota’s largest companies is suing a competitor in federal and international courts.

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West Fargo-based Bobcat Co. alleges that Texas-based Caterpillar Inc. infringed on patents that Bobcat holds for technologies used in skid-steers, excavators and other products on the compact equipment market.

Many of these technologies make equipment more efficient, safer and reduce environmental impact, according to Bobcat.

Caterpillar did not respond to a Tribune request for comment.

Filings from Bobcat say that other recent litigation filed by Wirtgen America Inc.—a Deere & Co. subsidiary—revealed that Caterpillar engineers tear down competitors’ products to find “advanced technologies” and potentially deploy similar features in Caterpillar products. Caterpillar was found guilty of patent infringement in 2024.

Bobcat alleges that Caterpillar has engaged in similar practices with Bobcat’s technology.

“Rather than innovate itself, (Caterpillar) has chosen to take the innovations of Bobcat to attempt to unfairly compete with Bobcat,” filings read.

The cases were filed in Texas Federal Court and at the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Bobcat seeks to have a judge determine that the patents were violated, permanently prevent Caterpillar from violating the patent and award Bobcat compensation for damages in the Texas case.

In the International Trade Commission case, Bobcat requests that Caterpillar’s products facing the patent infringement allegations be banned from importation into the U.S.

Bobcat has also filed complaints at the European Union’s Unified Patent Court and in German District Court making similar requests.

The company has been owned by South Korea-based Doosan Group since 2007 and prior to that has been under the ownership of a variety of out-of-state companies for decades, but its origins are in Gwinner, North Dakota, where it got its start as the Melroe Manufacturing Co.

“Bobcat (Co.) 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,” the company said in a statement.

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