Archer files patent infringement lawsuit against Vertical

Archer files patent infringement lawsuit against Vertical

Archer Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Vertical Aerospace

Archer Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against rival Vertical Aerospace in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The suit alleges that Vertical's Valo aircraft replicates key design elements of Archer's Midnight model, infringing on multiple patents.

Both companies are developing four-passenger eVTOLs with electric motors and tilt-rotor propellers, capable of 150 mph cruising speeds and 100-mile ranges. Archer claims Vertical's Valo mimics "distinctive design features" of the Midnight, including aerodynamic configurations and operational systems, which Archer asserts required significant investment to develop according to the report. The lawsuit seeks to block Vertical from using the alleged infringing designs and seeks unspecified damages.

Archer's Chief Strategy and Legal Officer, Eric Lentell, stated the company spent "billions of dollars and many years" refining its designs, accusing Vertical of "freeriding" on Archer's innovations to gain an unfair competitive advantage as detailed in the filing. Vertical Aerospace, founded in 2016 by former Formula One team owner Stephen Fitzpatrick, has not yet commented on the allegations according to company reports.

Archer, which secured a $1 billion order from United Airlines for its eVTOLs and a manufacturing partnership with Stellantis, holds key FAA operational certifications as noted by industry sources. Vertical, meanwhile, targets 2028 for European and UK regulatory approvals and recently showcased a Valo prototype in New York and Miami—events Archer claims mirror its own marketing strategies according to the report.

The lawsuit adds to escalating legal tensions in the eVTOL sector. In 2021, Boeing-owned Wisk Aero sued Archer over alleged trade secret theft, a case settled in 2023. Separately, Joby Aviation filed a 2025 suit against Archer, alleging corporate espionage.

For investors, the case underscores the high-stakes competition in the emerging air mobility market, where intellectual property disputes could delay product launches and impact valuation trajectories. Both firms must secure regulatory approvals to commercialize their aircraft, with Archer already holding critical FAA certifications as reported.

As the eVTOL industry approaches commercialization, legal clarity and patent enforcement will remain pivotal for market participants navigating intense innovation-driven rivalry.