Rockwell Sued by Competitor Alleging Gear Shift Copied

Rockwell International Corp. has been sued by rival Eaton Corp. over alleged patent infringement.

Like Rockwell, Cleveland-based Eaton makes automotive and industrial equipment. The suit, filed Thursday in federal court in Delaware, alleges that Rockwell’s soon-to-be-independent automotive group in Michigan is producing a gear shift control system that copies an Eaton patent.

The patent is for a shift control that provides the benefits of both manual and automatic shifts, according to the suit.

The suit seeks a court order prohibiting Rockwell from producing the item and requiring it to pay Eaton unspecified damages.

Officials at Rockwell’s corporate headquarters in Seal Beach declined comment Friday, saying the company had not yet reviewed the suit.