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DRS and NCS settle patent litigation
DRS Data & Research Services plc and NCS Pearson Inc have today announced that they have settled the outstanding patent litigation between them.
DRS commenced this action in January 2003 seeking to revoke five patents owned by NCS covering some aspects of using technology in examination marking. The trial was due to take place in the High Court, starting on 17 November 2003.
In the settlement that has been reached between the two companies, DRS has agreed to withdraw the revocation action in respect of the patents and NCS has agreed to grant a license to DRS to use the patents, and to sell its e-marking products.
Representatives of both DRS and NCS say that they are pleased with the settlement which, in the circumstances, benefits both parties.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Up until now, DRS has only been able to supply a scaled down version of DRS e-Marker®, its electronic marking solution, which is currently being used by a number of examination and assessment bodies. This system automates the mark scheme and presents trained markers with the correct responses and guidance notes on screen (as pictured).
The full version of DRS e-Marker®, which it is now free to develop and promote, allows the same processes as above to be undertaken, and includes the electronic scanning of scripts, imaging, segmentation and distribution of student answers to be sent to central or remote markers (in their homes) to be marked on screen.
DRS has an excellent and uncompromising record within the worldwide education sector. It has worked within the examination and assessment sector for over 30 years, and during that time DRS products and services have been used in over 40 countries to support critical national and regional examinations.
DRS has recently been awarded the 5 year contract to continue supplying the Middle Years Information System (MidYIS) examinations and Year eleven Information System (Yellis) student perception surveys to Durham University.
DRS manufactures and distributes its own range of OMR (Optical Mark Readers) and Imaging technology, as well as providing ICR (Intelligent Character Recognition) technology, all of which is designed to electronically capture a wide variety of data. It also provides associated services including project management, software, training and full technical support and back-up.
DRS also offers its customers a full bureau service specialising in managing large-volume, time-critical and complex projects such as examination processing and marking. Services offered include project management, design, print and personalisation of forms, distribution and receipt of completed forms right through to automatically capturing the data using its own automated data capture technology.
DRS was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade in April 2002. The award demonstrates DRS’ achievements in substantial and sustained growth and commercial success in overseas trade, particularly in the field of examination processing, worldwide national electoral registration and population census work.