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Interesting point in Eckoh's results. Wonder if we'll see it drive out more of the in-house solutions that some merchants use.
"New updated PCI DSS v4.0 standard effective from April 2024 will increase complexity and cost of compliance for merchants, which is likely to drive higher levels of sales engagement for Eckoh's solutions"
Zoom lifts annual results forecast as AI features boost demand
By Samrhith
November 20, 2023
"The Phone segment grew to roughly 7 million paid seats while Contact Center reached about 700 customers as of quarter-end"
"Zoom's AI Companion, introduced during the third quarter, allows paid users to access features including meeting summaries and catch-ups, as well as email and chat composed prompts. More than 220,000 accounts had enabled it as of Monday"
More here
https://www.reuters.com/technology/zoom-raises-full-year-revenue-forecast-2023-11-20/
==================================================
From the RNS Reach 13 November 2023
New strategic reseller partnership with Zoom
"The new partnership, which follows an extensive evaluation process, will see PCI Pal's award winning secure payment solutions become available in H2 across Zoom's unified communications (Zoom Phone) and contact centre (Zoom Contact Centre) portfolio. The partnership will not only provide a light-touch pathway for Zoom customers to achieve PCI compliance but also empowers seamless payment experiences across Zoom's communications platforms"
"At PCI Pal we have built our business on the ability to attract, integrate to, and be successful with partners. It is hugely exciting to make our entire Agent Assist, both speech and keypad tone, and Digital, across chat, social, email, and video, product-sets available to Zoom customers globally"
https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/PCIP/new-strategic-reseller-partnership-with-zoom-u5hwqjwdcoyf6pl.html
Thanks for that Victor.
What are the ethical considerations of leaving Hogarth (PCIP) to join 11 South Sq (Sycurio) when the court case is still ongoing.
Edward Cronan joins 11 South Square
We are pleased to announce the arrival of a new member of chambers, Edward Cronan. Edward first came on to our radar at 11 South Square when he was a solicitor, and we watched his move to the bar in 2018 with interest. Since then he has developed an excellent reputation in IP litigation, particularly patents. Edward is already well accustomed to working alongside the members of chambers, having been led by members of 11 South Square in cases such as Phillip Morris v RAI, Commscope v SoliD, Carku v NOCO, and AIM Sport v Supponor. Edwardâs profile
-------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Cronan
Recent & Notable Cases
Sycurio v PCI-Pal [2023] EWHC 2361 (Pat)
This was the trial of a claim for infringement of a patent relating to the secure processing of payments by telephone calls to a call centre. The patent was addressed to a method for reducing fraud by blocking data signals relating to the payment whilst maintaining voice communication between the user and the call centre agent. The Defendantsâ card payment system was alleged to infringe either on purposive construction or under the doctrine of equivalents.
The Defendants denied infringement and raised a Gillette/Formstein defence. They counterclaimed for invalidity on the basis that the Patent was obvious over three additional prior art citations (two patents and one press release).
The judgment discusses the composition of the Skilled Team and claim construction. The court held the patent obvious over the prior art patents and not infringed. The claimants propose to seek permission to appeal from these findings.
Michael Silverleaf KC and Kyra Nezami instructed by Michelmores LLP appeared for the Claimant.
Edward Cronan instructed by Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP appeared for the Defendants.
https://www.11southsquare.com/2023/11/edward-cronan-joins-11-south-square/
-----------------------------------------------------
11 South Square
1923â2023 ⢠CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
Barristers
Michael Silverleaf KC
Recent & Notable Cases
Sycurio v PCI-Pal [2023] EWHC 2361 (Pat)
The judgment discusses the composition of the Skilled Team and claim construction. The court held the patent obvious over the prior art patents and not infringed. The claimants propose to seek permission to appeal from these findings.
Michael Silverleaf KC and Kyra Nezami instructed by Michelmores LLP appeared for the Claimant.
Edward Cronan instructed by Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP appeared for the Defendants.
https://www.11southsquare.com/barristers/michael-silverleaf-kc/
Victor,
I will have a look at those when the site is back up.
I am sure Dentons is limbering up for a monster reply to Mathys earlier effort.
By the way, the stuff you posted on Mrs Justice Bacon and Haji-Ioannu was interesting. Another witness she has eviscerated! And another case of solicitors being too âhelpfulâ.
Thanks, Lucretuis
The same method of answering, as the EP2286576 reply
Was digging into some UK Documents, when it went down due to maintenance.
TELEPHONE SIGNAL PROCESSING, GB2562163 (exam report)
----------------------------------------
GB2535434 - Method and apparatus for implementing telephone payments (Third party observations)
Status Terminated before grant
Filing Date 12 December 2014
Publication Date 24 August 2016
Not In Force Date 25 February 2017
Application Title Method and apparatus for implementing telephone payments
Applicant / Proprietor AERIANDI LIMITED
07 September 2016..Third party observations
17 October 2016..Letter - Third party observations
https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/PublicationNumber/GB2535434
-------------------
This was cited by ECK, in the EP3603043 opposition Documents
WO2016092331A1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING TELEPHONE PAYMENTS
Applicants
AERIANDI LTD [GB
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search/family/054937269/publication/WO2016092331A1?q=pn%3DWO2016092331
-----------------------------
And PCIP, cited Syntec/ Westlake
EP3029918 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURE TRANSMISSION OF DATA SIGNALS IN A CALL CENTRE
https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP15198111&lng=en&tab=main
-----------------
System and method for secure transmission of data signals
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170026516A1/en?oq=20170026516
---------------------------------
Dentons, looking to beat Mathys 52 page reply?
EP2286576
10.11.2023 Letter regarding the opposition procedure (no time limit)
https://register.epo.org/application?documentId=LOSL8EITPDHYG7L&number=EP09742359&lng=en&npl=false
Mainly 1. I think. Force PCIP to cut back on S&M spend, which partly succeeded given taht PCIP have delayed moving into continental Europe til next year
Lol. Mathys & Squire fight back:
https://register.epo.org/application?documentId=LORLO4FM1BHKJ2A&number=EP18715240&lng=en&npl=false
I'm left wondering what Sycurio's intentions were / are:
1. Make PCIP burn cash.
2. Consume PCIP's management in a legal swamp.
3. Take a look at PCIP's engineering for Agent Assist.
Hi NoCheddar
It does make you wonder. This Document is dated 17th May 2023.
Read from 24 Counterclaim
https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Document/ApplicationNumber/GB1020894.0/64547799-c621-49c2-a23c-864f9dd85379/GB2473376-20230619-Letter%20%20Agentapplicant.pdf
Hi Victor,
Thought this was an interesting little snippet in yesterday's Prelims:
"Sycurio also accepted that the variants submitted by PCI Pal, which were changes it could make to its solution, would also not have infringed."
Sounds familiar?
Maria Ward-Brennan
Fri, 10 November 2023
During the case, High Court judge Justice Bacon previously found Haji-Ioannou to be a âdeeply unimpressive witnessâ concluding that she could place âvery little weight on his evidenceâ.
Last month, the Court of Appeal upheld Judge Baconâs ruling that Easygroup had failed to prove genuine use of any of the trademarks by IWG.
In a statement following the decision, Haji-Ioannou said: âWe are disappointed that the Court of Appeal found that Mr Dixonâs Regus is not infringing our marks with its use of www.easyoffices.com in what is essentially a âlive and let liveâ decision.â
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/charity-tech-firm-vows-fight-060000728.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvLnVrLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABtj8qeLefXu9HBBXxiaUeJzDhIHpCQf8uv_inSCTibt6fObBiyF71cFNliOfHBdvxCuZbaVvUyXUXjwdwgm3sxUh54IpgzONamt4F1UxwzuQS3yNSi8QND_IuVT6UhJT9EmoftgsYRmEjXp4mNmxrObUKZgTFZDrMhbLsbns7pJ
------------------------------------------
MRS JUSTICE BACON
Between :
EASYGROUP LIMITED
Claimant
- and -
(1) NUCLEI LIMITED
(2) PATHWAY IP SARL
(a company incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg)
(3) REGUS GROUP LIMITED
(4) IWG PLC
(a company incorporated under the laws of Jersey)
Defendants
13. "easyGroupâs principal witness was Sir Stelios, who is the founder, ultimate beneficial owner and director of easyGroup. He provided a witness statement for these proceedings, and also relied on a previous witness statement given in October 2009 for the purpose of his defamation claim against Mr Dixon and others. When cross-examined Sir Stelios was revealed to be a deeply unimpressive witness. He was argumentative, giving answers that were defensive to the point of implausibility, and repeatedly contradicted points set out in one or other of his witness statements. It was clear that he had a poor recollection of the events that formed the background to these proceedings. It also became evident that his most recent witness statement contained substantial material that (contrary to the requirements of Practice Direction 57AC) was not within Sir Steliosâ personal knowledge and recollection, but was instead drafted by his lawyers, giving evidence of points on which Sir Stelios had no clear recollection whatsoever. In those circumstances I unfortunately have to conclude that I can place very little weight on his evidence save where it is corroborated by other evidence in the case, including contemporaneous documents"
https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2022/901.html&query=(.2022.)+AND+(EWHC)+AND+(901)+AND+((Ch))
Possibly, though I'd be surprised if that many people viewed the Cavendish note that quickly. 16% growth would mean quite a dramatic change in their business trajectory and if that were the case, they could cut back on spending more than is in the Cav note
I would imagine it's because of disappointment in the FY25 numbers. That's effectively management guidance and only calls for growth of 16%.
Surprised by the share price reaction, though the lower price reduces my holding value enough to allow me to add more!
Trying to work out why people will have sold today. Current trading looks good - adding 11% more ACV than last year in a tough market. Will on course for profitability this year. Cash is no problem given they've stated that the remaining legal costs and will be profitable as well as cash balance + facility.
Only thing I can think of is whether people might mistake the +11% narrative and think that means that they're only growing at 11% rather than the new ACV being on course for 25%-30% growth?
There's a 35 page Cavendish note available on Research Tree. Crazily pessimistic - ÂŁ22.1m revenue in FY25 and 1.5p EPS. My own figures are around ÂŁ24m and 3p-4p. At least they reference them as being conservative!
Anyone managed to get hold of the house broker forecasts for FY25?
Yes, looks like someone is being pushed and framing it differently. They have a CMO on the marketing team, and quite possible that they have this manager level under her here in the UK and an equivalent in the US
Ah interesting, she probably just got the sack then!
Bit odd that, because they are hiring for a Marketing Manager, though UK based.
You will be responsible for driving global demand generation activities, and working with internal team and external agencies to develop integrated digital campaigns including paid social, paid search, content and nurture activities. The successful candidate will work with our sales team to grow the pipeline through generating great content, new communication channels and smart nurture activity.
https://www.pcipal.com/why-us/careers/marketing-manager-uk-based/
Looks like PCIP are doing a little restructuring. Not a total surprise in the current market.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kaylahilton_openforwork-b2bmarketing-saas-activity-7126225993526034432-wq9x?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Thanks, NoCheddar
This looks like a contract extension
Telephone Payment Service
United KingdomSalfordH M Revenue & Customs
Winner: PCI-PAL PLC|contractSigned
Contract for the direct provision of secure payment services (Agent Assist) to the Buyer for use in its contact centres. The initial term of the contract is 12 months; however there is the option to extend this contract for 2 periods of up to 12 months each...
ÂŁ2,751,977.00 Dec 22, 2022 Feb 13, 2026
https://tenderpipeline.thorntonandlowe.com/search?page=1&winners=[%22PCI%20Pal%22]&retenderdatedefault=any
Telephone Payment Service
A Contract Award Notice
by H M REVENUE & CUSTOMS
https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2022/W30/779550903
Hello All,
I've heard back from PCIP and their lawyers have said that the ruling could be between two and three weeks from the hearing, though that's not set in stone.
On the DWP tender, PCIP can handle the outbound calls part of the tender.
Expert report
2 November 2023
Long interesting article. Part 1
1.3. Within your expertise
It may sound obvious, but experts must keep to their sphere of expertise. If an expert is minded to comment on issues that relate to other disciplines, it is important to qualify their comments by deferring to the discipline of an expert who may better assist the court. This avoids any criticism of overreach. In the recent patent case of Sycurio Ltd v PCI-Pal PLC [2023], one of the claimantâs experts, while an acknowledged expert in relation to part of the claim, was not an expert on several technical points addressed in her report. Under cross-examination, she was forced to make uncomfortable concessions, including admitting she had not understood key concepts and had relied upon âresearchâ to try and understand technical documents. Unsurprisingly, the court gave no weight to any of her opinions on matters outside her direct expertise. Her legal team was forced to abandon elements of her evidence during the trial.
https://www.stewartslaw.com/news/preparation-presentation-expert-reports-part-1/
Victor,
I've emailed James, got an automatic reply that he's on paid leave. Will post if I hear back from him next week.
On the Gov.UK tender site it states that the contract notice will be 2/1/24.