IPAB directs Kolkata office to send documents on Mainline Corporate within a week

Mainline Corporate's patent for a data processing method related to multi-currency environment was challenged by Euronet Services in IPAB

The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has asked the officials with the Patent Office, Kolkata to send the documents related to a patent allowed to electronic payments and infocomm technology firm Mainline Corporate Holding Ltd in a week's time, in order to proceed with a revocation petition filed by US-based Euronet Services. The patent, granted in 2007, is for a data processing method and system for determining a preferred currency in a multi-currency environment, related to debit or credit card transaction.

When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, the coram comprising of IPAB Chairman Justice K N Basha and technical member (Patent) D P S Parmar observed that while the Board has asked the officials in the Patent Office, Kolkata to despatch the entire records relating to the main issue involved in the matter, particularly in respect of the prosecution of the patent application with respect of the impugned patent within a period of three weeks from January 30, 2015, it has not done so.

"But unfortunately, despite of the lapse of two months, the Controller of Patents, Kolkata is not bothered to despatch the records" he said, observing that when the Registry of IPAB contacted the official, he had simply stated that the records has been despatched without giving any explanation for the delay.

He directed the official in the Patent Office Kolkata to despatch the documents within a week from Monday, if it has not been sent already. The matter has been adjourned to a later date.

The matter is related to a revocation application filed by Euronet Services against the Patent No 207375 owned by Mainline Corporate Holding Ltd, which has its office in Ireland. The invention is a data processing method and system for determining a preferred currency for association with a charge, debit or credit card transaction, for use in a multi-currency environment. It provides systems and methods for identifying an appropriate currency for individual transactions conducted using a card payment system.