Outsourcer stole 'my idea'

A DEVELOPER is claiming that Tata Consultancy infringed his copyright on an e-passport idea.

S Paul Raj, a computer science graduate, said that during his studies he identified several areas in daily life that could benefit from technological intervention.

One of his cunning plans involved a travel document that would contain the traveller's information. Yep, he claims to have invented the smartcard, so beloved of governments everywhere, and patented it under the name 'FLYGUARD'.

A Madras High Court dismissed Raj's request for an interim injunction restraining Tata Consultancy Services from infringing his copyright and patent. But nonetheless the case looks set to run and run.

Tata said that the concept was bereft of any novelty as it was neither original nor new. The concept involved technologies that were already long in the public domain. Tata also pointed out that Raj had not done anything with his idea and had not patented it.

In his ruling, Justice K Chandru said that Raj hadn't made any prima facie case in his favour to support the grant of any interim order. µ