GAIN AND CINPRES: THE FINAL TWIST
In a bizarre postscript to an already complex story, the man who was President of Gain Technologies during a protracted legal dispute with Cinpres has started work in his new job - as a senior executive with BI Group, which owns Cinpres.
Gain and Cinpres clashed bitterly over patent disputes for years, spending fortunes in legal fees on both sides of the Atlantic. But in effect, Cinpres was declared the clear winner more than a year ago.
Now, Cinpres boss Jon Butler has taken an additional role with BI Group, leading a global intellectual property (IP) protection programme – and hired Ed Smith, his former opponent, to help.
“Ed is a talented business leader with great experience in international IP protection, even if much of it was gained in bitter competition with Cinpres. We have both put the past behind us and I am confident I have the best man for the job,” said Mr Butler.
“The legal battles drained both firms and didn’t help either grow. It was never personal between Ed and I – we even kept in touch for years with a robust, constructive dialogue behind-the-scenes. I don’t blame Ed for what happened – he did his job, professionally. I am glad to have him on-board and he’s already making a substantive contribution.”
Ed Smith, who lives in Michigan, said: “Jon Butler was a tough opponent and it’s a lot more fun having him as a colleague.”
He said his move to BI Group had strong logic. “BI Group is positioned as the company with the technology, and the global IP protection - there’s no basis to dispute that, now. Jon and I can focus on what we really want to do, not just on behalf of Cinpres, but on behalf of the Group as whole – bring great technologies to our customers, using innovation to improve quality and reduce cost.
“It was a little bizarre, initially, working with a guy I was used to seeing across a courtroom – but we got over that fast. I already think like one of the BI Group team. Cinpres moved on from the fight incredibly effectively, with tough international IP protection and solid financial support from the group, allowing it to funnel funds into research and development, open up new routes to market, and new technical and service support operations. The court cases are history.”
Mr Smith is spending this week with BI Group’s senior management team and says his welcome has been “just great. A few ironic smiles, which is a British thing, I guess; and a bit of mild joshing, but I gave it right back! It was good-humoured and I was made to feel part of this team right away.”
He has been on BI Group’s payroll for several weeks but wanted to settle in to the role before a public announcement. Industry reactions amongst the few that knew were positive. “A few raised eyebrows - it was a little surprising I guess - but most ‘get it’ right away. It’s an obvious move,” he said.
