Versata Sues Ford Over IP Theft Linked To Configuration Software
Texas software company Versata is suing former partner Ford over claims the automaker stole code from its proprietary technology.
The lawsuit, presented before a U.S. District Court judge in Texas and filed May 7, says Ford received a patent in 2014 for internally developed software meant to identify incompatible parts across a million vehicle configurations to avoid recall issues, Automotive News reports. The company goes on to claim said patent was based upon code for its own software, which was used by the automaker between 1998 and 2014 under an agreement netting Versata $8.45 million per year, and was denied a request to examine the new system in violation of the agreement.
Versata is seeking an injunction to block Ford from using the latter’s so-called Automotive Configuration Manager, and gives the automaker until June 29 to respond.
Ford denies the allegations, proclaiming the new software was developed in 2010 after Versata declared its technology “obsolete,” adding its replacement handles vehicle configuration “very differently, and more efficiently” compared to Versata’s software. The automaker also is seeking to dismiss or transfer the case out of Texas to Michigan.
[Photo credit: Ford]
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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The pickup in the photo would look at lot nicer without the little dick, big rig grilles. Overly animated. I suppose until Ford can learn how to fold and work with aluminium most bends will be straight. Maybe that Nesbitt guy was moonlighting and designed the front end of this F-150. How many acres of grille do you require for a 2.7 litre engine?
@Big Al - I'm more inclined to agree with the other guys but since you went there, the Raptor grill/snout(old or next gen) looks better than anything else in the Ford lineup. Back on topic, intellectual property can be hard to prove.
TTAC Staff, Here is an interesting, industry related story. Makes for some interesting reading to where and how the US tax dollar is and can be used. Here's an excerpt from the article with the link; "Here is a bloke who has lived through the merger and demerger, has worked through 13,000 jobs cuts in the US, has seen his colleagues tighten their belts or lose their jobs during the bankruptcy crisis, and here in Australia we have been spending like drunken sailors, having $1 million Christmas parties and buying Louis Vuitton bags for staff. "Think about it. We have never really made a dollar here in Australia. We have been living off the money of the parent company to build a presence, build market share. "And for a long period of time that money was coming from US taxpayers as part of the bail-out. I can't even imagine what the reaction is back in Michigan. Someone will have popped a fuse about this." The link; http://www.smh.com.au/business/fiat-chrysler-boss-clyde-campbell-crashes-to-ground-20150606-ghh9rq