DM Corp., a Waterloo, Ontario, Canada-based provider of imaging and payment solutions, announced on Sept. 18, 2002 that is has filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit against Roswell, Ga.-based Ingenico Corp., manufacturer of payment terminals and technologies.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, alleges that Ingenico is in violation of RDM's copyrights as well as an agreement between the two companies regarding RDM's intellectual properties. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit Ingenico from using copyrighted software related to RDM's check-scanning products, specifically with Ingenico's 2600 check reader/imager. In addition to the copyright charges, RDM also is seeking monetary damages.

Ingenico responded to the charges in a company press release by stating the allegations by RDM are false and that the Ingenico 2600 check reader/imager was developed to meet marketplace needs using engineering expertise earned from developing and installing more than 500,00 check readers during the past six years.

"The accusations look to be the result of acceptance by major check service companies of the Ingenico 2600 as a superior product with better price/performance than any competitive offering on the market," said Michael Hackney, Vice President and General Manager of Ingenico's Financial Systems organization. "RDM, in making these accusations, is playing the 'FUD' (fear, uncertainty and doubt) game."

Ingenico also denies owing any contractual or other obligations to RDM that would prevent Ingenico from making or selling the Ingenico 2600.

The Ingenico 2600 is a check reader and imaging product that captures images of checks and documents in gray scale to ensure no handwritten information is lost during the imaging process.