Picker wins ruling in ISO case

Picker International hopes a federal court judge's ruling thismonth has ended its eight-year legal battle with independent serviceorganization Imaging Equipment Services (IES) of Pittsburgh.

Picker filed the litigation in 1987, accusing IES of improperuse of service software and other charges. IES in turn chargedPicker with antitrust violations relating to scanner service.

Picker won a summary judgment ruling last year that threw outmany of the IES accusations (SCAN 6/15/94). In a ruling this month,U.S. District Court Judge Mark Wolf rejected the last of the ISO'scharges relating to intellectual property and issued a stingingrebuke to IES.

In a 73-page opinion, Wolf said IES "engaged in a relentlessand extensive campaign to misappropriate Picker's legally protectedintellectual property."

Wolf ordered IES to return or destroy Picker diagnostic softwareand service and repair documentation in its possession and permanentlyenjoined IES from violating Picker copyrights or misappropriatingPicker trade secrets. The judge appointed a monitor to ensurethat IES complies with the court's order.

A Picker spokesperson said the Cleveland vendor hopes thatWolf's ruling will be the last word on the case. IES plans toappeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals, according to IEScounsel Bill West.