VAR500: 20-20 Pursues Illegal Download Suit, Accenture Provides Oracle Software To Feds

A lawsuit continues to have legs as software developer 20-20 Technologies seeks damages for the illegal download of its CAD program by a competitor. The VAR500 IT solution provider lost its copyright violation claim, but the court found merit in its assertion that a rival illegally downloaded 20-20's software.

In other VAR500 news, Accenture wins a $10.8 million federal contract providing Oracle software to the feds; ACS helps move commuters more smoothly with debit card system; Ciber appoints a new SVP; Capgemini aims to trim IT costs at Deutsche Telecom's German arm; Fiserv's mobile banking solutions are ranked No. 1 by Javelin Strategy & Research; and Agilysys takes a bite out of the concessions market.

20-20 Pursues Illegal Download Suit

VAR500 IT solution provider 20-20 Technologies is still waging a battle against competitor RealView. However, it has retreated from claims of copyright infringement against RealView after a U.S. Federal Court ruled that all 61 of 20-20 Technologies' claims of copyright infringement against RealView were unprotectable. Instead, it will pursue its claim of illegal downloading. That same federal court found RealView responsible for damages coming from RealView’s illegal download of 20-20’s Design software in order to develop software that would compete against 20-20's. Both IT solution providers develop CAD software used to design kitchens. At a trial earlier this year, a jury established 20-20’s damages deriving from RealView’s illegal download at more than $ 1.3 million, according to 20-20. A recent court order mandates a new trial to be held to introduce further evidence establishing the actual damages suffered by 20-20.

Accenture Wins $10.8M Federal Contract

The VAR500 IT solution provider will provide Oracle’s PeopleSoft application support and hosting services to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under a five-year, $10.8 million contract. The goal for FERC is to identify areas for process improvement and cost reduction. Accenture will upgrade and expand existing software applications to enable the commission to access, organize and interpret information to improve efficiency and help transform information into predictive analytics using Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition software.

Ciber Appoints New SVP

Bruce Douglas joins Ciber as senior vice president, sales and business development. Douglas previously was with Oracle and Sun services businesses and has a background as an entrepreneur who has founded and sold high-end consulting businesses. He will lead the VAR500 IT solution provider's efforts in business development throughout North America. His responsibilities include oversight of strategic accounts, sales operations, sales support, alliances and Ciber's vertical industry approach to the North American marketplace.

ACS Helps Commuters Get A Move On

ACS is modernizing the commuter payment systems in Abu Dhabi, Casablanca and Mexico City. Those cities' public transit systems will implement the IT solution provider's Atlas ticketing system. Riders wave their reloadable debit cards across local transit agency readers, eliminating the need for cash and aiming to ease commuter congestion. ACS’ transport systems and services are used by more than 1,000 municipal, regional and national operators in 400 cities worldwide; the solution provider processes more than 100 million public transport tickets daily.

Fiserv Mobile Banking Solutions Top Ranking

Javelin Strategy & Research named Fiserv the "Best in Class" mobile banking provider for the second year in a row in its "2011 — 2012 Mobile Banking Vendor Scorecard." Providers were graded in a number of areas, including support for mobile access modes, product features, scalability and security. Fiserv earned the top score of all the providers surveyed and is the only provider to be named "Best in Class" for two straight years. The IT solution provider made two key acquisitions —of MCom and CashEdge —which the the Javelin report said were key for bringing strategic mobile services inhouse.

Capgemini To Help Shave IT Costs At Deutsche Telecom's German Arm

Deutsche Telecom and Capgemini will work together to further consolidate IT services of Deutsche's German arm, Telekom Deutschland GmbH. The arrangement will result in the building of a dedicated business intelligence factory, as well as "harmonizing the BI systems of the group," according to the telecom company. Telekom Deutschland GmbH, which was formed following last year’s merger of T-Home and T-Mobile within Deutsche Telekom, aims to consolidate its business processes, IT systems and its services portfolio. The IT solution provider will work with Deutsche Telekom to eliminate redundancies and to embed the company's data warehousing in a new BI architecture. Capgemini will support in the planning stage and undertake the long-term development of key components of the BI landscape.

Agilysys Takes a Bite Out of Concessions Market

Savor, a food concessions and catering management company in Philadelphia, selected the Agilysys Eatec inventory and procurement system to streamline operations and enhance guest service. Venues that initially will use the solution include: Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla.; Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu; Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif.; and Savannah International Trade & Convention Center in Savannah, Ga.