This has been out for a few days.
MMRGlobal Investigates Possible Patent Infringement in Singapore
LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKETWIRE) -- 02/19/13 -- MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTCQB: MMRF) today announced that as a result of recent publicity, it has been brought to the Company's attention that vendors providing services to the Ministry of Health in Singapore appear to be infringing on patents (including Singapore patent number 200801954) and other Intellectual Property (collectively, the "MMR-IP") issued to MyMedicalRecords, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of MMRGlobal. The Company has been advised that personally-controlled health records, or Personal Health Records (PHRs), are included in programs for the Ministry of Health, the Health Promotion Board, the Health Sciences Authority and numerous other organizations in Singapore, which the Company believes is clearly part of MMR's inventions that led to its MyMedicalRecords patents. The discovery came as a result of the Company's investigations in Australia, which were reported in recent announcements that the Australian Government, both state and federal, through the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA), appears to be infringing on two MyMedicalRecords patents.
NEHTA has reportedly spent an estimated one billion Australian dollars on a Personal Health Records program which is the subject of the potential infringement and which it appears broadly incorporates numerous portions of the MMR-IP. The Company has spoken with an attorney for NEHTA. MMR suggested entering into an agreement to exchange documents to facilitate an informal resolution to this matter for the benefit of all parties. MMR also suggested that all relevant parties schedule a meeting at the 2013 HIMSS Conference starting March 3rd in New Orleans in a good faith effort to get this resolved.
As part of the Company's continued efforts to protect its patents, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. announced on February 12, 2013 the filing of a complaint in the United States for patent infringement against WebMD Health Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary, WebMD Health Services Group, Inc. ("WebMD"). The complaint alleges that WebMD is infringing on MMR's Personal Health Records patent, specifically U.S. Patent No. 8,301,466, and as a result, MMR is seeking monetary damages as well as a permanent injunction. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, case number CV 13-00979, on February 11th, and is available on the court's website http://www.pacer.gov/.
The full release is here.
I feel sorry for Singapore being sucked into all this. It does rather seem to be spreading! Interesting to read of actual suits being underway.
David.