A Namibian man, who claims to be the inventor of MTC’s multiple Aweh concept, is dragging the telecommunications giant to the High Court for copyright infringement.
Willem Eiman, who hails from Keetmanshoop, claims he first introduced the concept to MTC in 2017 when he addressed a letter to them, introducing his concept.
According to him, it was through “research, hard work, industry and innovation” that he came up with the idea of a “Pre-paid Multi-Period Telecommunications Concept” – and on or about 27 April 2017, he directed a letter to MTC, wherein he proposed it considers implementing multiple Aweh products.
MTC has now indicated they intend to fight Eiman in court, and they have proof that their staff have already worked on the concept years before Eiman contacted them.
Eiman states he made it abundantly clear in his letter that his idea/invention was to be acquired against compensation and stated, among others, he intends to “give MTC the opportunity to take over the intellectual property rights thereof at a rate to be agreed upon between myself and MTC”.
He further said on 19 January, his letter was published as an article in The Namibian newspaper under the heading ‘Allow us to purchase multiple Aweh products’.
According to Eiman, John Ekongo, corporate communications officer at MTC, acknowledged his “invaluable” advice and indicated MTC’s intention to forward the idea to its products, innovations and solutions team.
Eiman claims that based on his idea, MTC launched the product to the public on or about 26 May 2020, without giving him the necessary credit or acknowledgment.
On 28 July 2020, he said, he directed a letter of demand to MTC, wherein he demanded compensation from MTC for their use of his idea and on 3 September, they responded by denying that the product was based on his idea.
He said they claim that the product is the result of years of research dating back to 2015 and that the concept belongs to MTC.
In the premises, he said, he is entitled to a fair, just and reasonable compensation for the use of his idea by MTC.
Furthermore, Eiman said, on 25 January 2021, he reduced his idea to a protectable form and obtained copyright on a literary work, titled ‘Pre-paid MultiPeriod Telecommunications Concept’.
Thus, he claims, he is the rightful owner of the concept, and MTC has been using his concept without acknowledging him and without compensation.
He is thus asking the High Court for an order appointing a duly registered chartered accountant to prepare and submit a full account of all MTC’s business from 26 May 2020 to the date of judgment to determine the revenue MTC has generated on account of his concept and debatement of such accounts.
Furthermore, he claims 15% of the total income so generated by MTC based on his concept and 15% or an amount equal to 15% of all future income generated by MTC based on his concept, plus interest of 20% per annum from the date of judgment to the date of final payment.
Alternatively, he is asking the court to appoint a duly registered chartered accountant to prepare and submit a full account of MTC’s business from 25 January 2021 to the date of judgment to determine the revenue MTC has generated on account of his original idea and in violation of his copyright, plus payment of 15% of the total income generated from 25 January 2021 to the uniteddate of judgment, as well as payment of an amount equal to 15% of future income that MTC will generate from his concept.
He also asks for the cost of the suit, including one instructing and two instructed counsels.
MTC spokesperson Tim Ekandjo yesterday said the company will battle Eiman in court.
“We have taken note of the allegation and can confirm that our legal department has been issued with summons and intends to defend.
“We are, however, aware of the same allegation that the complainant made a few years ago, which we addressed with him by showing him that the idea, like all other ideas, were internally developed by our creative geniuses. We do, however, respect his decision to challenge us in court, and we will gladly prove to the court that he had nothing to do with that product.”
Eiman is represented by Jerhome Tjizo. -rrouth@nepc.com.na