Caterpillar Inc. (CAT.US) countersues Doosan Bobcat, patent war escalates, impacting North American market landscape.

The legal battle between engineering machinery industry giants Caterpillar Incorporated and Doosan Bobcat has heated up once again. On March 24 (Tuesday), local time, Caterpillar Incorporated officially filed a countersuit against Doosan Bobcat in the Federal Court of Texas, USA, accusing Doosan Bobcat of infringing on its core patents related to earthmoving machinery improvements. This large-scale intellectual property dispute began in December 2025 when Doosan Bobcat first initiated legal actions in the courts of Texas and the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the United States. In the lawsuit, Doosan Bobcat detailed 14 patents allegedly infringed upon by Caterpillar Incorporated, covering core models such as skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, excavators, and bulldozers. Doosan Bobcat claimed that Caterpillar Incorporated reverse-engineered its key components and applied for an import ban through the ITC, attempting to cut off the supply of Caterpillar Incorporated's infringing products in the US market. Faced with pressure from Doosan Bobcat, Caterpillar Incorporated had previously denied all infringement accusations in several related cases. A spokesperson for Caterpillar Incorporated solemnly stated, "We are proud of our continuous progress and investment in innovation, these efforts are aimed at helping customers tackle the most challenging problems. At the same time, we also have the right to protect our intellectual property." In the recent countersuit on March 24, Caterpillar Incorporated switched to the offensive, alleging that some of Doosan Bobcat's machinery products also illegally used Caterpillar Incorporated's protected patent technology, especially in improving the efficiency and stability of earthmoving operations. Furthermore, Caterpillar Incorporated accused Doosan Bobcat of researching and copying its technology as part of a "competitive intelligence" program. As a result, Caterpillar Incorporated filed for compensation in court, although the specific amount was not specified. It is understood that Doosan Bobcat specializes in compact engineering machinery, originally established as Melroe Manufacturing Co in North Dakota in 1947 and acquired by South Korean Doosan Group in 2007. This high-profile case involves Doosan Bobcat North America suing Caterpillar Incorporated, with the case being heard in the Eastern District Court of Texas, with case number 2:25-cv-01184. Currently, due to the ITC officially launching an investigation into the relevant products in early 2026, the outcome of this patent litigation will directly impact the competitive landscape of the North American engineering machinery market. Legal experts point out that cross-lawsuits involving top technology patents typically have long cycles and high legal costs, often ending in both parties reaching a cross-license agreement or strategic settlement. However, before the final ruling, the patent rights contest between the two companies in key areas such as hydraulic systems, electronic controls, and chassis design will continue to create uncertainty for the stability of the global engineering machinery industry's supply chain and market pricing power.