Dispute over intellectual property rights with supplier could cost Caterpillar $74M

PEORIA, Illinois -- A dispute over intellectual property rights with an England-based supplier could cost Caterpillar $74 million.

Miller UK Limited, a manufacturer of equipment couplings for excavators and other large construction and mining equipment won a lawsuit against Caterpillar for allegedly misusing trade secrets it gained as a customer of Miller.

The suit said Caterpillar ditched Miller as a supplier after Caterpillar gained access to its designs, improved upon them, and began building its own couplings.

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