Today, the Lyubertsy City Court will hear a case on an administrative violation by the Moscow Region branch of the Novosibirsk company Avtoreid, the company's president Viktor Lyapustin told Vedomosti. This company sells Bilstein and ZF shock absorbers, which, according to Tikhonenko, use useful shock absorber model. Tikhonenko received three patents for such a model, which is essentially an improvement on existing shock absorbers, from Rospatent last summer. Earlier, the inventor told Vedomosti that he had figured out how to improve the damping properties of shock absorbers, which “hold up better to breakdowns.”

Having received the patents, the inventor sent warnings to all sellers of imported shock absorbers. According to Lyapustin, when Tikhonenko suggested that Avtoreid pay royalties for each shock absorber sold, the company did not take his threats seriously. Bilstein representatives reacted the same way, he says. Vladimir Mamonov, An employee of the Moscow office of IHR, which represents Bilstein's interests in Russia, confirms Lyapustin's words. "We did not receive any direct claims from Tikhonenko and did not understand what was being discussed," he says.

On Monday, a similar case of administrative violation by the company R-Parts will be heard by the Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow. It is accused of selling Kayaba shock absorbers, which, according to Tikhonenko, also violates his rights, said Andrey Melnikov, head of the Moscow office of KYB Europe.

The fine for such violations is insignificant – no more than 2,000 rubles, say Melnikov and Lyapustin.

But a loss in the Moscow court could create a dangerous precedent that could stop sales of shock absorbers under the Kayaba, Bilstein and other brands.

Yesterday, it was not possible to contact Tikhonenko. In May, he told Vedomosti that he had issued a warning to 49 Russian companies selling spare parts. And he estimated the damage caused to him over two years by Kayaba alone at $30–32 million. Melnikov estimates the entire market for imported shock absorbers in Russia at 110-120 million euros in invoice prices (delivery to Russia).

Deputy Head of the Legal Department at Gorodissky and Partners Evgeny Aleksandrov believes that if Tikhonenko wins in the Lyubertsy and Zamoskvoretsky courts, he will be able to use the court decisions to further pressure auto parts sellers in the regions. "Considering how Tikhonenko operates, there is a potential danger for everyone , who puts shock absorbers into circulation,” the lawyer believes.

According to the company, Kayaba shock absorbers are installed on almost all Japanese cars (including Toyota), Bilstein - on most European cars (including Mercedes, Porsche, and GM cars).

"The Russian secondary auto parts market has encountered an unexpected serious problem," said the director of the Association of Distributors of Automotive Components (ADAK, which unites 20 companies) Alexey Pevkhyonen in a message sent to members of the Association in early June. As Pevkhyonen told Vedomosti, ADAK members have information that Tikhonenko also filed applications for registration of utility models of brake pads, hinges and, possibly, other spare parts. Therefore, we should expect new requests and police checks, he believes. ADAK proposed that all market participants hold a meeting to develop common actions to protect their rights from Tikhonenko.

Protection from the inventor