LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 13, 2006 — Applied Business Software Inc. ("ABS"), a leading provider of software systems for the lending industry, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that alleges copyright infringement, breach of contract and specific performance.
The lawsuit, filed July 26, 2005, names PONTES FINANCIAL GROUP, LTD. ("PFG"), STEVEN M. PONTES and THE BOOKWORKS, INC. ("TBW") as the defendants. According to the lawsuit, multiple unauthorized copies of THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM) software had been installed or used on unlicensed computers and at an unlicensed location.
On January 9, 2006, ABS' Motion for Preliminary Injunction was granted by A. Howard Matz, U.S. District Judge. The court specifically found that "Defendants' copying of plaintiff's software violated the terms of the SLA" (software licensing agreement). The court specifically ordered, inter alia, that PFG and Steven M. Pontes, during the pendency of the action, are enjoined from distributing ABS' copyrighted THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM) software to any third party, and that TBW, during the pendency of the action, is enjoined from retaining, using or distributing ABS' THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM) software.
ABS is a Long Beach, CA-based company that creates computer financial management programs for mortgage professionals. A suite of programs known as THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM) includes copyright protected software that guides mortgage professionals through real estate and lending laws. ABS uses licensing agreements to provide clients with products such as THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM). The licensing agreements set fees based on the number of computers licensed to use the software within a certain location.
"We're proud of the creative and valuable assistance that the use of the ABS software in THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM) product line provides mortgage professionals," said ABS President Jerry Delgado. "Because THE MORTGAGE OFFICE(TM) suite of products is an invaluable tool within a competitive market, we need to make sure that all licensees are operating fairly and that the use of our software is restricted to authorized computers."
Applied Business Software, in business since 1978, is a leading provider of software systems for the lending industry. Information about Applied Business Software's products and services can be found at http://www.themortgageoffice.com.
Contact:
Howard Cohn
Applied Business Software
2847 Gundry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90755
Tel: 562-426-2188
http://www.themortgageoffice.com