Judge closes law suit against TransMagic, et al

Back in April, WorldCAD Access reported on a law suit between a Boston architect and a trio of companies. One of the three, TransMagic, specializes in translating CAD data. In http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/blog/2011/04/hauled-to-court.html, I wrote:

Transmagic uses LTL's Sheriff utility, which "phones home" user details, such as their IP address, computer MAC address, email address, and Transmagic software activity. The idea is to determine whether customers are failing to follow licensing terms, such as when someone uses the software beyond its 7-day trial period or installs it on multiple computers. As long as Transmagic tells users they are taking this info, and Transmagic's setup uninstalls all software, then all is well.

Architect Miguel Pimentel said he installed it one day, and then uninstalled it the next day. Three months later, enforcement firm ITCA told Mr Pimentel to pay up, or face $150,000 in legal actions.

Last week, Todd Reade, president of TransMagic, wrote me to update the status of the law suit:

FYI, just wanted to close the loop on this. Here is the actual court document from June 13, 2011, closing the case against TransMagic that you reported on. No evidence of any wrong doing was ever presented.

 The administrative closing was filed in June, and reads as follows:

In order to avoid the necessity for counsel to appear at periodic status conferences, it is hereby ORDERED that the above-entitled action be and hereby is CLOSED without entry of judgment. All material statutes of limitation are tolled as of the date of the filing of the complaint herein as to all matters raised therein. The case may be reopened upon motion by any party demonstrating that the above-entitled impediment to trial has been removed. This closure is without prejudice to either party moving to restore it to the docket, if any further action is required.

 

Comments

[Christopher James]

ITCA have now spread their wings to the UK. I have been contacted in April 2012 by them in a similar vain to architect Miguel Pimentel. I have told then to take a run and jump, or words to that effect but I suspect that they are hoping for a more conducive interpretation of the law in the UK.

Does anyone else have similar experience?

Finally I didn't like the software in fact I thought it was quite awful!