Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Current Issue

News

JACKSON, MI – An appeals court has tossed a $1.7 million judgment in favor of EMS provider Sparton Corp.

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a prior ruling in favor of Sparton in its lawsuit against Util-LINK LLC and National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative.

The Sixth Circuit also affirmed the lower court's decision denying NRTC relief on its $20 million counterclaim against Sparton.

Sparton said it would review the decision and that its claim still has merit.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UK – Aegis Software (Europe) Ltd. has moved its European headquarters here and named Daniel Walls European managing director.

The manufacturing information management systems provider’s new site includes a larger training center, among other features.

Walls joined Aegis in 1997 as controller and chief financial officer, and was also a regional sales manager.

“Aegis sees Europe as a very important manufacturing market,” said CEO Jason Spera in a statement. “Our new European headquarters, along with appointing Walls as managing director confirms our commitment and ensures manufacturers in Europe the high level of customer service and quality products.”

NEW YORK -- The World Trade Organization this week opened a formal investigation on allegations that China is providing a safe haven for product piracy and counterfeiting.

The WTO panel's scope will be limited to whether Beijing has taken sufficient action to protect IP rights, but it could ultimately authorize U.S. trade sanctions against China valued at billions of dollars annually -- the amount the U.S. claims its companies lose because of China's alleged lax enforcement. A final decision could take years.

China publicy complained about the measure, which the country blames on the U.S. It said it is going after companies and invidivuals who infringe U.S. copyrights and trademarks, and the U.S.'s actions could hurt trade relations between the two nations.

China last month blocked a U.S.-led attempt to form a panel. WTO rules prevented the country from delaying the investigation a second time.