The patent in question, European Patent 455750B1, describes a
method of incorporating an anti-counterfeiting feature into
banknotes or other security documents to protect against forgeries
by digital scanning and copying devices, said the firm.
According to Document Security Systems Inc. (DSSI), the patent
was granted in to the late Ralph Wicker in 1999. DSSI acquired it
in 2004 from the inventor's estate. Wicker’s son Tom is the
company's Chief Technology Officer.
DSSI filed its lawsuit in the European Court of First Instance
on Monday, seeking damages for patent infringement from the
European Central Bank (ECB) – the central bank for the euro,
seeking royalties.
Twelve countries in Europe changed their currency from
individual national currencies to the euro on 1st January 2002, and
seven denominations of new bank notes were designed and printed. By
the end of 2006, which is the earliest that this case might come to
trial, the ECB is expected to have printed or caused to be printed
about 30 billion euro banknotes, all of which DSSI believes
infringe the patent.
Patrick White, CEO of DSSI, warned, “The euro is not the only
currency utilising our technologies without authorisation.”
“We believe there are a significant number of other currencies
and also traveller’s cheques that contain our patented technologies
on an unlicensed basis. There are also a number of corporations who
may be potential infringers,” he explained. “We plan on addressing
each and every instance in order to derive the maximum benefit from
our intellectual properties."
According to Tom Wicker, the Wicker Family is pleased at the
action taken by DSSI.
“Our father, Ralph Wicker, was the original inventor of these
technologies,” said Tom. “He passed away knowing that many
governments and corporations were infringing on our patents but our
family lacked the resources to enforce these rights.”
“We joined forces with Document Security Systems in part so that
we would have the resources and corporate structure to not only
address what we consider to be the wrongful use of our technologies
but also to provide a platform for marketing and licensing our
newer and more powerful anti-counterfeiting technologies in the
future,” he added.
The ECB has not commented on the lawsuit.
