DDC MACHINE: FIRM SUES INEC, OTHERS OVER ALLEGED RIGHT INFRINGEMENT
A Lagos-based firm, Technocrat Consult and IT Systems Limited, yesterday sued the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC] challenging the legality of the award of the Direct Data Capture machines to three firms without its consent on a technique that would prevent multiple voting from the DDC machines.
Joined as defendants in the suit before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of Federal High Court in Lagos are the three firms, namely, Zinox Technologies Limited, Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation and Avante International Technology Inc.
In the suit filed by its counsel, Mr. Norrisson Quakers,the plaintiff is demanding N8bn damages.
The firm claimed it invented the technique -portable telecommunication device used in biometric identification, saying that it owned the patent right No RP: NG/P/2010/283 on the invention.
It said the invention comprises a portable and lightweight fingerprint apparratus, which can scan and record fingerprint images in the field and wirelessly transmit the said images to a central transactional unit for the purpose of providing immediate identity and background checks on the individuals being fingerprinted.
According to the company, the electoral body infringed on its patent right when it included the technique in the DDC machines contract awarded to the three firms without its permission.
INEC, it avvered invited it for a meeting at its head office in Abuja on July 27, 2010, claiming that all its commissioners were present when it gave a full demonstration of the technique.
At the said meeting, it gave the full disclosure of the services it proposed to render to INEC, including disclosing its innovations covered by its patent registration.
The plaintiff prayed the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from importing , manufacturing or distributing the DDC machines within the scope of its registered patent on the technique.
It praying the court to rule that it is the original author/inventor of the technique, saying that the defendants' DDC machines infringe on its device.
It also urged the court to perpetually restrain the defendants and their agents from infringing on its registered patent on the device.
During the of the application yesterday, Quakers,the plaintiff lawyer,prayed the court to grant him the permission to serve the court processes outside jurisdiction on Haier Electrical and Avante International who are based in China and the United States respectively.
The judge granted his prayers to serve the two foreign-based firms through courier service.
Further mention on the matter was fixed for November 30 this year.
Mohammed Shosanya, Lagos
A Lagos-based firm, Technocrat Consult and IT Systems Limited, yesterday sued the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC] challenging the legality of the award of the Direct Data Capture machines to three firms without its consent on a technique that would prevent multiple voting from the DDC machines.
Joined as defendants in the suit before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of Federal High Court in Lagos are the three firms, namely, Zinox Technologies Limited, Haier Electrical Appliances Corporation and Avante International Technology Inc.
In the suit filed by its counsel, Mr. Norrisson Quakers,the plaintiff is demanding N8bn damages.
The firm claimed it invented the technique -portable telecommunication device used in biometric identification, saying that it owned the patent right No RP: NG/P/2010/283 on the invention.
It said the invention comprises a portable and lightweight fingerprint apparratus, which can scan and record fingerprint images in the field and wirelessly transmit the said images to a central transactional unit for the purpose of providing immediate identity and background checks on the individuals being fingerprinted.
According to the company, the electoral body infringed on its patent right when it included the technique in the DDC machines contract awarded to the three firms without its permission.
INEC, it avvered invited it for a meeting at its head office in Abuja on July 27, 2010, claiming that all its commissioners were present when it gave a full demonstration of the technique.
At the said meeting, it gave the full disclosure of the services it proposed to render to INEC, including disclosing its innovations covered by its patent registration.
The plaintiff prayed the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from importing , manufacturing or distributing the DDC machines within the scope of its registered patent on the technique.
It praying the court to rule that it is the original author/inventor of the technique, saying that the defendants' DDC machines infringe on its device.
It also urged the court to perpetually restrain the defendants and their agents from infringing on its registered patent on the device.
During the of the application yesterday, Quakers,the plaintiff lawyer,prayed the court to grant him the permission to serve the court processes outside jurisdiction on Haier Electrical and Avante International who are based in China and the United States respectively.
The judge granted his prayers to serve the two foreign-based firms through courier service.
Further mention on the matter was fixed for November 30 this year.