Bobcat Company Sues Caterpillar Over Skid-Steer Patents

West Fargo, North Dakota - Bobcat Company., a construction machinery company, has filed multiple patent infringement lawsuits against Caterpillar Inc., alleging the competitor copied innovations from Bobcat’s skid-steer loaders and other equipment.

The complaints were filed in U.S. courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Unified Patent Court of the EU, and a German court. Bobcat said the legal actions aim to protect its patented technologies and ensure fair competition. Fourteen Bobcat patents are at issue, covering functions like maneuverability, power, performance, and efficiency.

Bobcat, originally founded as Melroe Manufacturing Company in 1958, acquired rights to the first compact loader invented by Cyril and Louis Keller. The company has continuously improved its machines over decades.

Bobcat alleges Caterpillar, which entered the skid-steer market in 1999, studied competitor products in detail, including dismantling them to make CAD drawings. The patents in dispute cover tracked utility vehicles, lift-arm operation zones, automated hydraulic shifting, hydraulic power prioritization, and variable engine control. Bobcat seeks damages, ongoing royalties, and a permanent injunction against infringement.

The ITC complaint requests bans on infringing Caterpillar machines in the U.S., while European and German cases target similar patent violations.

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