Toyota makes available nearly 6,000 patents royalty free

Car maker Toyota has made available nearly 6,000 patents relating to hydrogen fuel cells royalty free, in a bid to popularise the manufacturing of hydrogen powered cars.

Speaking at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday (January 5), Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota, announced that the car maker will make available 5,680 patents royalty free until 2020.

The portfolio contains 1,970 patents relating to fuel cell stacks, 290 patents covering high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 software patents and 70 patents directed to hydrogen production and supply.

Toyota will negotiate individual royalty-free licensing agreements with companies wanting to use its patents. The car maker has also made clear that although it may request the use of similar patents owned by the licensee, that will not be a requirement of any deal.