General Motors Co., Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Maserati North America have joined a long list of auto manufacturers that have been sued by a Texas company that makes and sells integration devices that connect mobile devices to car stereo systems.

Blitzsafe Texas, based in Marshall, has owned two patents since 2009 and 2012 for its device that allows people to link their smartphones and car audio systems, enabling them to take hands-free phone calls and play music. One patent covers a wired integration device, and the other covers a Bluetooth device.

The company filed two complaints—one against GM, the other against Fiat Chrysler and Maserati—that allege the vehicles they manufacture have components that are infringing Blitzsafe's patents. The lawsuits are very similar.

Since 2013, GM has placed infringing "Infotainment Systems" in its Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC branded vehicles, and they're being sold at auto dealerships across Texas, the GM complaint said.

The lawsuit against Fiat Crysler and Maserati alleged that the companies since 2013 have been infringing Blitzsafe's patents in vehicles branded as Chrysler, Fiat, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

Blitzsafe, which brings claims for two counts of patent infringement in each lawsuit, alleged that the defendants knew about its patents because of past litigation involving the defendants' Infotainment System suppliers. Yet they have kept infringing on the patents, which Blitzsafe claims makes it entitled to a treble damages award and attorney fees.

Fiat Chrysler spokesman Michael Palese wrote in an email that the company hasn't been served with the lawsuit, and would not comment on the allegations.

General Motors spokesman James Cain also declined to comment.

A search of PACER showed that Blitzsafe has filed 15 patent infringement lawsuits in the past four years against the world's largest automakers, including Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Volkswagen and more. For example, in 2015 it filed five patent infringement cases that named six automakers as defendants.

So far, the company has resolved its previous lawsuits against automakers, said Fred Fabricant, a partner in Brown Rudnick in New York, who represents Blitzsafe.

"All of them are permitted now to sell [the] product," Fabricant said. "We believe it was a very successful overall campaign against a large number of companies, and it continues to move forward."

Fabricant added that aside from the two new filings on Friday, the only other Blitzsafe lawsuit that's still pending is against Robert Bosch GmbH, a German company that manufactures and sells audio equipment. Bosch allegedly manufactures infringing products and sells them to General Motors, according to an amended complaint. A trial in that case is set for May 4, 2020.

A representative for Maserati didn't immediately answer an email seeking comment.

Related stories:

Read the GM petition:

|