Tata arm pays up for unauthorised use of software

Metaljunction.com, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, has paid $80,000 for unauthorised use of software for auction services.

C1 India Pvt Ltd, a Delhi-based software provider, had moved the Delhi High Court as soon as news of unauthorised e-procurement software being used for auction of steel by Coaljunction.com and Commercejunction.com came to its notice.

Vivek Agarwal, president and chief operating officer of C1 India said, "The misuse of internet-based software by Tatas was not expected".

When contacted, Metaljunction Ltd MD Viresh Oberoi said, "Metaljunction is the only company that is using C1 software. No any other company of the Tata Group uses it. We have paid C1 the requisite licence fee for using their software for our unlimited business requirements."

The Delhi High Court ruled that Metaljunction had allegedly removed C1 India's name from the website and displayed Commercejunction and Coaljunction on it without prior consent and payment.

The court, in its interim judgment, ordered Metaljunction.com to pay $20,000 as fee for using the software and $60,000 towards revenue at the rate of 10 per cent for use of auction services for a new business. $20,000 was to be paid for licence fee for installation of software on an additional server.

The aggregate thus came to $100,000. According to the court's order, Metaljunction.com paid $80,000 to C1 India on 2 June, the day the judgment was passed.

"We will not be challenging the Delhi High Court's judgment and will follow the orders, reserved till August 26 this year", said Oberoi, adding that the company would "pay the remaining $20,000."