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Closely held Paice LLC and Baltimore's Abell Foundation, a non-profit that's invested in Paice, filed the suit Thursday in federal court in Baltimore, accusing the Seoul-based automakers of infringing three patents.

The complaint targets Hyundai's Sonata Hybrid and the Kia Optima Hybrid. Hyundai and Kia, which are affiliated and whose hybrid vehicles use the same powertrain technology, were aware of the patent litigation with Toyota, which ended with a 2010 settlement reached after eight years of legal battles, Paice said.

"Since as early as 2004, Paice has contacted Hyundai on numerous occasions and offered to discuss its patented hybrid technology," Paice said in the complaint.

The company is seeking cash compensation and an order that prevents further use of the technology without permission. Paice was founded by Alex Severinsky, a Soviet emigrant who began his career developing antitank-warfare instrumentation.

In the 1990s, he developed a high-voltage method to power gas- electric vehicles that he contends is the basis for modern hybrid technology. Ford Motor Co., maker of the Fusion hybrid car, also agreed to license Paice's technology to resolve lawsuits.