a 2001 patent infringement lawsuit brought by ecd ovonics and ovonic battery company, inc. against matsushita, toyota, and peve was settled in july 2004. settlement terms called for cross-licensing between parties of current and future nimh-related patents filed through december 31, 2014. the terms prevented matushita, toyota, and peve from selling certain nimh batteries for transportation applications in north america until the second half of 2007, and commercial quantities of certain nimh batteries in north america until the second half of 2010. additionally, ovonic battery co. and ecd ovonics received a $10 million patent license fee, cobasys received a $20 million patent license fee, $16 million of which was earmarked to reimburse legal expenses, and cobasys would receive royalties on certain batteries sold by matushita/peve in north america.