Motorola's New Business Venture Very Smoggy

18 October 1999

Motorola's New Business Venture Very Smoggy; Electronics Giant Tries Its Hand At Smog Reduction Devices While Sidestepping U.S. Copyright and Patent Protections

    SAN DIEGO--Oct. 15, 1999--"According to Keith Finkenbiner, president of San Diego-based Neutronics Enterprises Inc., Motorola Corp. is now suddenly entering the overseas automotive emissions control business. And Neutronics is fuming.
    "Finkenbiner says that Neutronics developed and patented its emissions control system under U.S. Copyright laws 9 years ago. Its system requires a microprocessor chip to regulate the flow of emissions from the tailpipe. According to Finkenbiner, the company has purchased about $1 million worth of these chips each year from Motorola.
    "'We have been aggressively marketing our technology, which is certified by the California Air Resources Board, to China for over a year in order to assist with growing concerns over air quality problems in the Asian country,' Finkenbiner said.
    "However, Finkenbiner claims that Motorola Asia/Pacific has suddenly produced its own emissions control technology product that competes directly against Neutronics' product in China. He contends that the technology giant is even running ads and placing articles about its new product in Chinese newspapers throughout Beijing.
    "'The public should be outraged that Motorola has ignored U.S. copyright and patent process that it relies on so often in other instances just to put a small company like Neutronics out of business,' said Finkenbiner. 'Their product is virtually identical to ours.'
    "In fact, Finkenbiner claims, Motorola developed its system in the U.S. by copying the Neutronics product, but quickly shipped the products to China to avoid the U.S. copyright and patent process.
    "'Everyone knows that Motorola has never been in the emissions reduction business -- it's no mystery where they got their product,' said Finkenbiner. 'We can get our chips from a variety of companies, but we have been a loyal Motorola customer for years and this is the thanks we get. It's no wonder why they have a problem with customer loyalty.'"