Main-Line Corporate Holdings Ltd v United Overseas Bank Ltd: Patent Infringement & Discovery

In Main-Line Corporate Holdings Ltd v United Overseas Bank Ltd and First Currency Choice Pte Ltd, the High Court of Singapore addressed the scope of discovery required for the plaintiff, Main-Line Corporate Holdings Ltd, to elect between damages or an account of profits following a finding that the defendants infringed the plaintiff's patent for a currency conversion system. The court ordered the second defendant, First Currency Choice Pte Ltd, to provide further documents, including a detailed breakdown of revenue and expenses and monthly transaction reports, while limiting the scope of discovery for the first defendant, United Overseas Bank Ltd.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Application granted in part; further discovery ordered from the second defendant.

1.3 Case Type

Intellectual Property

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Patent infringement case regarding a currency conversion system. The court addressed the scope of discovery required for the plaintiff to elect between remedies.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
United Overseas Bank LtdDefendantCorporationApplication dismissedDismissed
Main-Line Corporate Holdings LtdPlaintiffCorporationApplication granted in partPartial
First Currency Choice Pte LtdDefendantCorporationApplication granted in partPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Sharon LimSenior Assistant RegistrarYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Ang Wee TiongTan Kok Quan Partnership
Wong Siew HongInfinitus Law Corporation
G RadakrishnanInfinitus Law Corporation
Arthur YapAlban Tay Mahtani & De Sliva LLP
Koh Chia LingAlban Tay Mahtani & De Sliva LLP

4. Facts

  1. The plaintiff owns a patent for a method and system to automatically determine a preferred currency for card transactions.
  2. The defendants were found to have infringed the plaintiff's patent.
  3. The trial judge ordered an inquiry by the registrar on damages or an account of profits.
  4. The plaintiff applied for discovery of the defendants' documents to make an informed election between remedies.
  5. The first defendant received commissions from the second defendant for using the infringing system.
  6. The second defendant's audited accounts showed a loss from the use of the patented system.
  7. The second defendant provided its audited accounts between 2001 and 2005, draft accounts for year ending 31 March 2006 and management accounts for 1 April 2006 to 30 November 2007.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Main-Line Corporate Holdings Ltd v United Overseas Bank Ltd and Another, Suit 806/2004, [2008] SGHC 55

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Lawsuit filed (Suit 806/2004)
Second defendant's representative's affidavit filed
Plaintiff applied for discovery of the defendants’ documents (SUM 5347/2007)
Judgment reserved
Second defendant infringed the patent
First defendant imputed with knowledge of the patent and infringement

7. Legal Issues

  1. Scope of Discovery
    • Outcome: The court determined the scope of discovery necessary for the plaintiff to make an informed election between damages and an account of profits, ordering specific documents to be disclosed by the second defendant.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Extent of disclosure required for election of remedies
      • Relevance of documents to the election process

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Discovery of documents
  2. Inquiry as to damages or an account of profits

9. Cause of Actions

  • Patent Infringement

10. Practice Areas

  • Discovery
  • Patent Infringement

11. Industries

  • Banking
  • Finance
  • Technology

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Island Records Limited v Tring International PLC and anotherEnglish High CourtYes[1995] FSR 560England and WalesCited for the principle that a plaintiff is entitled to information to make an informed election between an account of profits or an assessment of damages in a copyright infringement case.
Brugger v MedicaidUnknownYes[1996] FSR 362UnknownCited to illustrate the practical application of the principles in Island Records v Tring, specifically regarding the extent of discovery required in a patent infringement case.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Patent
  • Infringement
  • Discovery
  • Account of profits
  • Damages
  • Election of remedies
  • Currency conversion system
  • Point of sale terminal
  • Foreign exchange spread profit
  • Commission

15.2 Keywords

  • Patent infringement
  • Discovery
  • Election of remedies
  • Currency conversion
  • Singapore High Court

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Patent Infringement90
Patent Amendments85
Discovery of documents80
Account of Profits75
Civil Practice70
Election of Remedies65
Measure of Damages60
Evidence50
Contract Law40
Arbitration30

16. Subjects

  • Intellectual Property
  • Civil Procedure
  • Patents
  • Discovery