History (1995): SyQuest Digs Up Hatchet in War Vs. Nomaï

Following a destructive legal war, SyOuest Technology (Fremont, CA) and Nomaï (Avranches, France) wound up forcing themselves to reach an agreement last year.

To this day they remain arch enemies, as is evident in SyQuest’s new plan, announced June 9, to seek relief and damages from Nomaï for manufacturing and selling compatible 200MB 5.25-inch removable hard disk cartridges. Ten days later, the French firm responded it had not been informed that a suit had been brought against it, and that it was not currenly, nor had it ever been infringing on any of SyQuest’s patents or copyrights.

Clearly, the Califomian company was particularly lax on protection of its first 44- and 88MB 5.25- inch cartridges. Would it repeat the same mistake with its new 200MB 5.25-inch cartridges?

The 2 companies also have a battle raging on another front, payment of royalties decided upon as a result of the agreement reached between them concerning 5.25-inch cartridges. SyQuest stated last June that it is currently pursuing the collection of royalties in excess of $1 million for fees uncovered in an April 1995 audit. Nomaï says the amounts owed were deposited according to the dates agreed upon. But it seems as though the two companies disagree on the dates of payment; when Nomaï sends out the bills for its cartridges, or when it collects from its clients?

This article is an abstract of news published on the former paper version of Computer Data Storage Newsletter on issue 90, published on July 1995.