⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

The Sixth Circuit considers a trade-secret dispute between Ford and InterMotive over a device for modifying commercial vehicles. InterMotive's Upfitter Interface Module helps specialty-vehicle builders connect added equipment to a vehicle's electronics. The companies explored a factory-installed version for Ford. InterMotive says it shared confidential designs and a prototype, only for Ford to pass the technology to another supplier and develop its own module. Ford sued InterMotive, and InterMotive brought counterclaims. A jury found that Ford misappropriated a trade secret and awarded InterMotive about thirteen point two million dollars of Ford's module profits, not profits on entire vehicles. The trial judge left that verdict standing. Ford will argue that InterMotive had disclosed the key features in a different product released in 2014, before Ford sold its own version. That product is the Programmable Relay Power Center, or P R P C. InterMotive will argue that it did not reveal the compact, integrated combination the jury found to be a secret. The other central dispute is disgorgement: requiring Ford to hand over profits caused by the misappropriation. Apportionment means separating those profits from profits attributable to other features. Ford will argue that InterMotive had to make that separation; InterMotive will defend placing the burden of deductions on Ford once causation is established.

Ford Motor Company v. InterMotive, Inc., et al. (No. 25-1971) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, argued October 22, 2026.