Manila Express Payment System Inc. (MEPS) on Sunday denied reports that the issues between them and BTI-Philippines Inc. (BTI) had been settled.
MEPS, which owns and operates “TouchPay” machines, said in a statement it obtained favorable decisions in a series of cases filed against several officers and directors of other corporations that allegedly infringed on its registered utility model.
It said that a series of raids conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation-Intellectual Property Rights Division (NBI-IPRD) in 2021 led to the seizure of several automated payment machines under the label “Xytrix” / “ZoomPay” machines, owned by Xytrix Systems Corporation (Xytrix) and powered by Electronic Transfer and Advance Processing Inc. (E-TAP).
The Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa, Branch 203, through Judge Myra B. Quiambao, found probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the officers of Xytrix, led by Danilo Evangelista, for the alleged crime of Unfair Competition under Republic Act No. 8293.
The seized Xytrix/ZoomPay machines were supposedly found to be infringing the registered utility model of MEPS, the latter said.
Xytrix admitted that it owns the seized kiosks but claimed the machines were manufactured and powered by E-TAP.
Likewise, the tribunal of the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. recently ruled in favor of MEPS and found that BTI, headed by Danilo Ibarra, apparently conspired with E-TAP in copying the registered utility model of MEPS and installed the same into BTI and E-TAP machines under the brand name “Pay & Go.”
The tribunal thus awarded MEPS the amount of P13.44 million by way of damages against BTI.
However, MEPS appealed the ruling, saying despite the Arbitral Tribunal’s findings that BTI committed an alleged infringement in conspiracy with E-TAP, it failed to award the claimed damages of MEPS worth over a hundred million pesos.
MEPS also has a pending infringement case filed against E-TAP in RTC-Branch 258 of Paranaque City.
It said it will continuously take the necessary actions against any individuals and/or entities violating its intellectual property rights.