icon on Howard & Howard has successfully represented its client, InterMotive Inc., in a high-stakes intellectual property dispute against Ford Motor Company. A Michigan federal judge upheld a $13 million jury verdict in favor of InterMotive, finding substantial evidence that Ford misappropriated trade secrets and infringed on InterMotive’s trademark related to its “Upfitter Interface Module.” In post-trial rulings, Judge Terrence G. Berg denied Ford’s motion for a new trial or judgment notwithstanding the verdict, awarded InterMotive $3 million in prejudgment interest, and granted partial attorney fees. The court had previously awarded several hundred thousand dollars in sanctions against Ford for discovery violations. The judge criticized Ford’s initial trademark infringement claims as “flimsy,” noting they were pursued for years despite Ford having previously authorized InterMotive’s use of its logo. The court also affirmed that the combination of technological elements in InterMotive’s module qualified for trade secret protection under Michigan law and found evidence of actual consumer confusion caused by Ford’s use of the same product name. We are proud to represent InterMotive throughout this complex litigation and to have secured a favorable outcome on their behalf at the trial court. Ford is likely to appeal.
This summary is based on reporting by Danielle Ferguson in Law360, 'Ford Loses Bid To Overturn $13M Verdict In IP Dispute,' published October 1, 2025.