.Legal battle stalls shipment of bomb detectors to Iraq
Delivery of next-generation robots to counter improvised explosive devices, the No. 1 killer of U.S. troops in Iraq, is being held up by a legal battle over trade secrets.
IRobot Corp., best know for its Roomba vacuum, is seeking a court order to block rival Robotic FX from using allegedly stolen technology to make portable, 20-pound robots that can identify and help destroy roadside bombs. Robotic FX is an eight-employee company in Alsip run by Chief Executive Officer Jameel Ahed.
The Pentagon planned to begin shipping the first batch of up to 1,000 to Iraq and Afghanistan last month, court papers show.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner in Boston received final briefs in the dispute Wednesday and could rule as soon as today. The Army, while not commenting on the case, said in court papers filed by Justice Department lawyers that U.S. troops could die if the robots aren't sent quickly.
''The Army is extremely concerned that these robots be provided because they are life-saving devices,'' said Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Johnson in an interview. The Army ''has a huge interest'' in insuring a steady supply.
Robots with scaled-down tracks like those on tanks are being used with increased frequency to detect and detonate improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, the leading killer of U.S. troops in Iraq. Since the March 2003 invasion, 1,976 troops have been killed from ''explosive devices'' of the 3,816 total U.S. deaths, through Wednesday, according to U.S. Defense Department data.
The robots are part of a multibillion-dollar effort to protect ground troops that includes heavily armored vehicles, jammers to disrupt detonation signals, drones to spot IEDs and raids on factories where the devices are built.
A month before the Pentagon awarded its $280 million contract for up to 3,000 robots to Robotic FX on Sept. 14, iRobot sued the closely held company and Ahed.
IRobot claims Ahed, 29, a former iRobot engineer, took private data to create Robotic FX's Negotiator robot. Ahed, in hearings that ended last week, denied the accusations.
Ahed ''put on very, very strong testimony'' in his defense, Johnson said. The allegations he stole technology ''have yet to be proven.''
The Justice Department is representing the U.S. Army and isn't taking sides, Johnson said.
SunTimes
IRobot Corp., best know for its Roomba vacuum, is seeking a court order to block rival Robotic FX from using allegedly stolen technology to make portable, 20-pound robots that can identify and help destroy roadside bombs. Robotic FX is an eight-employee company in Alsip run by Chief Executive Officer Jameel Ahed.
The Pentagon planned to begin shipping the first batch of up to 1,000 to Iraq and Afghanistan last month, court papers show.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Gertner in Boston received final briefs in the dispute Wednesday and could rule as soon as today. The Army, while not commenting on the case, said in court papers filed by Justice Department lawyers that U.S. troops could die if the robots aren't sent quickly.
''The Army is extremely concerned that these robots be provided because they are life-saving devices,'' said Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Johnson in an interview. The Army ''has a huge interest'' in insuring a steady supply.
Robots with scaled-down tracks like those on tanks are being used with increased frequency to detect and detonate improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, the leading killer of U.S. troops in Iraq. Since the March 2003 invasion, 1,976 troops have been killed from ''explosive devices'' of the 3,816 total U.S. deaths, through Wednesday, according to U.S. Defense Department data.
The robots are part of a multibillion-dollar effort to protect ground troops that includes heavily armored vehicles, jammers to disrupt detonation signals, drones to spot IEDs and raids on factories where the devices are built.
A month before the Pentagon awarded its $280 million contract for up to 3,000 robots to Robotic FX on Sept. 14, iRobot sued the closely held company and Ahed.
IRobot claims Ahed, 29, a former iRobot engineer, took private data to create Robotic FX's Negotiator robot. Ahed, in hearings that ended last week, denied the accusations.
Ahed ''put on very, very strong testimony'' in his defense, Johnson said. The allegations he stole technology ''have yet to be proven.''
The Justice Department is representing the U.S. Army and isn't taking sides, Johnson said.
SunTimes
posted by madtom at 9:02 PM
2 Comments:
You know, they could let them send the things over and fight over the proceeds here in the safety of our home. I'll bet that happens in short order. Besides just being the right thing, the bad pub flowing from such asinine behavior would ruin the company. Even I, a capitalist through and through, would make it known to every retailer carrying the ridiculous Roomba vacuums that I am spending my money elsewhere.
In a snide remark madtom was overheard saying:
"How easily you would put aside a core value and right, for a perceived gain.."
If you ask me, it's becoming clear that, Jason, and T.Don are right about the approach to fighting the IED.
Who would've guessed?
So I would go with the traditional conflict resolution on the property rights. Just think how many other issues there might be with the equipment if they don't even have the paperwork.
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