LONDON, June 25, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hexagon Metrology today announces a litigation victory in its dispute over alleged misappropriation of trade secrets from its market-leading PC-DMIS inspection and measurement software, which is developed and published by Hexagon Metrology division Wilcox Associates, Inc. The suit, filed against Xspect Solutions, Inc. ("Xspect"), Wenzel Group GmbH & Co. KG ("Wenzel Group"), Wenzel Prazision GmbH ("Wenzel Prazision"), and Wenzel Metromec AG ("Wenzel Metromec") arose over allegations that the above mentioned companies used and disclosed confidential information and trade secrets for the benefit of Xspect, Wenzel Group, Wenzel Prazision, and Wenzel Metromec.
The U.S. District court of the Eastern District of Michigan, has issued a permanent injunction order against Xspect, Wenzel Group, Wenzel Prazision and Wenzel Metromec ("the parties") in the Federal Court wherein they agreed to refrain from using or disclosing any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of Wilcox Associates, Inc. Specifically, the parties have agreed to the injunction which enjoins them from the following actions for either a set or indefinite period of time:
* The parties must not solicit for hire any technical employees of Wilcox, Hexagon Metrology, Inc. or Hexagon Holdings, Inc. (collectively, "Hexagon");
* The parties may not ever use or disclose any of Hexagon's confidential, proprietary or trade secret information or property;
* The parties may not ever develop any product or provide any service involving the use of Hexagon's confidential, proprietary or trade secret information;
* The parties may not develop any PC-DMIS translation utility or develop, market or sell any PC-DMIS execute utility;
* May not release any new version of a measurement software that includes a translation feature or an execute feature without first notifying Wilcox; and
* May not infringe, directly or indirectly, upon Hexagon's copyrights.
Hexagon Metrology's parent company, Hexagon AB, takes a serious view of intellectual property infringement and adheres to the principle of legally defending its rights. The company develops market-leading solutions for industrial measurement applications, maintains an active portfolio of more than 1,700 active patents, and invests more than thirteen percent of its net sales in research and product development yearly.
About Hexagon Metrology
Hexagon Metrology is part of the Hexagon AB Group and includes leading metrology brands such as Brown & Sharpe, CE Johansson, CimCore, CogniTens, DEA, Leica Geosystems (Metrology Division), Leitz, m&h, PC-DMIS, QUINDOS, ROMER, Sheffield and TESA. Hexagon Metrology brands represent an unrivaled global installed base of millions of CMMs, portable measuring systems and handheld instruments, and tens of thousands of metrology software licenses. Hexagon Metrology empowers its customers to fully control manufacturing processes that rely on dimensional precision, ensuring that products manufactured precisely conform to the original product design. The company offering of machines, systems and software is complemented by a wide range of product support, aftermarket and value-added services. More information can be found at www.HexagonMetrology.com
The Hexagon Metrology, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3454
Link to press release: http://hexagonmetrology.us/press-releases/hexagon-prevails-in-intellectual-property-suit