Action Technologies, Inc. Files for a Preliminary Injunction Against Novell, Inc.'s GroupWise 5.0
<It looks like these guy's are going to be thorn in our side. We need to get this thing resolved before it get's out of hand!...EKS>
ALAMEDA, CALIF. (Dec. 24) BUSINESS WIRE -Dec. 23, 1996--Action
Technologies, Inc. announced today that in the United States District
Court Northern District of California, it filed a motion for a
preliminary injunction against GroupWise 5.0, a new version of Novell
Inc.'s groupware product.
Action expects the motion to be decided upon during the first quarter of
1997. This motion is part of an ongoing suit filed by Action against
Novell on November 16, 1995, which claims that GroupWise infringes one
of Action's patents.
In a related event, on December 3, 1996, the court handed down an order
in which the judge ruled that GroupWise falls within the claims of one
of Action's patents. This motion by Action for a preliminary injunction
arises out of Novell's expansion of both functionality and supported
operating environments for GroupWise, with no apparent regard for the
court's ruling that GroupWise is covered by Action's patent.
"One of the reasons Novell customers cite for purchasing GroupWise is
the Task function which the court found to fall within the claims of one
of Action's patents," said Terry McGowan, president and chief executive
officer of Action. "To remain competitive against Microsoft Exchange,
Lotus Notes and Netscape Communicator, Novell must make GroupWise
programmable and extend its operation to the Internet. In doing so
however, GroupWise 5.0 dramatically extends the impact of its
infringement on Action's patent.
"We view this new action by Novell as extremely significant," said
McGowan. "Novell has consciously extended the use of the infringing
technology from an arena in which Action has historically granted
licenses for use of the technology, to an arena in which they compete
directly with our core business. We are left with no course of action
but to pursue the case as aggressively as possible," concluded McGowan.
About Action Technologies
Action Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of Internet/ Intranet
and client/server-based work coordination software for business process
and workflow automation. Action offers complete applications as well as
tools for the rapid design, development and deployment of business
applications that coordinate work within and between organizations.
Headquartered in Alameda, Action sells its products worldwide through a
direct sales force as well as through integrators, VARs and distributors
in 25 countries. Additional information and product demonstrations are
available on Action Technologies, web site at actiontech.com
. -0-
Note to Editors: Copyright 1996 Action Technologies, Inc. ActionWorkflow,
ActionWorkflow Process Builder, ActionWorkflow Process Manager, are
registered trademarks of Action Technologies, Inc. ActionWorks is a
trademark of Action Technologies, Inc. All other company and product
names may be trademarks of their respective holders. |
