UK-based JPM International is reported to have lost its court case against Jan Wozny, chairman of the board of directors for Nowopol Group of Companies, based in Poland, according to local press.
Nowopol was accused of changing EPROM data, which would have enabled the company to make copies of JPM’s machines. JPM was claiming compensation for £350,000.
Nowopol director Tomasz Wozny commented: "While we were always confident in defending ourselves in this case, it has caused irreparable damage and resulted in us losing several key contracts which ran into millions of euros.
"Following legal advice taken from our government, lawyers in Poland and the UK, we will be seeking compensation from JPM alongside Synot - its exclusive dealer for Poland - in due course."
However, when contacted by InterGame, Synot, long-term business partner of JPM, expressed that it fundamentally disagrees with the decision to acquit Wozny of a criminal act relating to unauthorised data changes on EPROMs in AWP machines, saying: "We are confident that the law has been violated and fully support the decision by JPM International to immediately appeal against the first stage court verdict."
Pavel Michalcio, sales director at Synot Holdings, told InterGame: "As a businessman operating, not only in the Polish market, but internationally, Wozny must have realised how important the software in gaming machines is as well as how complicated the technological processes involved.
"If the District Court had judged all the evidence correctly, including expert opinion, then it would have come to a guilty conclusion."
Synot has said that, in cooperation with JPM, it will consider additional legal steps against Nowopol and more specifically Tomas Wozny, son of Jan, who at the time as a shareholder and general director, provided routine services within Nowopol and knew about installation of the alleged copied software in AWP machines.