CU Partner features in Australian inventor's story

Key Points:

Sydney IT / IP partner Jim FitzSimons recently featured in an episode of the popular ABC program Australian Story, which profiled Sydney inventor Ric Richardson.

Ric Richardson is the founder of software company Uniloc. Back in the early 1990s, Jim advised Ric to patent his unique software distribution technology and also negotiated Ric's first licensing deal.

Uniloc has been involved in long-running patent infringement proceedings in the US against Microsoft, which resulted in an award of US$388 million in damages – one of the largest damages awards for breach of a software patent ever made. The award was subsequently overturned, but Ric has vowed to continue his fight.

Jim was interviewed about the case and his initial advice to Ric.

Jim's Australian Story appearance was complemented by a panel seminar held in the Sydney office on 11 August, at which Ric shared his story with clients and staff. Jim joined CU special counsel Nick Tyacke on the panel, as well as patent attorney Peter Dummer of Wallington-Dummer and industry expert Dr Isaac Shariv from Sydnovate. The seminar was skilfully moderated in Q&A style by Sydney partner Mary "Jana" Still.

We had excellent feedback from both clients and staff on the seminar and Jim's star performance on Australian Story.