By PETER GRIFFIN technology writer
UK-based Invensys yesterday won an extended injunction against the chief executive of its Christchurch subsidiary, James Kennedy, as a dispute over intellectual property rights escalated in the High Court at Auckland.
Five other defendants and Auckland company Load Logic are also subject to the injunction, first ordered two weeks ago, which prohibits the use of a device that regulates power output.
But although Invensys was successful in winning an extension, some of the defendants won counter orders against Invensys, preventing the company from using the technology in a business capacity.
Counsel for the defendants, Mr Willie Palmer, said the civil case was essentially an ownership dispute.
"The order of injunction that Invensys obtained continues in force, but orders were [yesterday] obtained by some of the defendants along similar lines to those already made in favour of Invensys. Those defendants also claim ownership of certain intellectual property," he said.
Mr Palmer said the orders against Invensys would be unlikely to affect the company's existing business activities as the disputed property was a newly developed product.
An investigation is also under way by the Serious Fraud Office.
Some Invensys employees have been stood down as the investigation continues.
Invensys said last night that it was investigating a possible theft of technical information.
The parties will appear in court again in the next few weeks. Key evidence will be that of James Barnes, sole shareholder of Load Logic.
Invensys employs about 400 people making power systems for the telecommunications industry. The company changed its name from Switchtech to Invensys in 1998.
James Kennedy and Invensys' marketing services manager, Richard Humphrey-Taylor, could not be contacted for comment last night.
Intellectual property dispute has court orders flying
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