Auckland brain research company Neuronz has won a High Court judgment that it owns intellectual property that was allegedly stolen by a former worker, Lloyd Tran.
Justice Peter Salmon has upheld Neuronz's claim that it is the true owner of two patent applications filed by Mr Tran last November for an
undisclosed drug which may lead to a treatment for strokes, head injuries and diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.
He has yet to rule on Neuronz's claim against Mr Tran for legal costs expected to run into six figures.
Mr Tran and his wife Fern were each fined $10,000 in May for contempt of court in failing to return all Neuronz property to the company. Evidence revealed that the couple hid a computer in the ceiling of their Avondale home.
Justice Salmon found that the contract under which Mr Tran worked for Neuronz clearly established that Neuronz owned "all discoveries, inventions, designs, improvements, innovation, product, process or computer programmes or systems" made partially or totally by Mr Tran.
Neuronz chief executive David Clarke said the judgment established a key legal principle and was "an important step in developing the viability of the knowledge-based industry sector in New Zealand".
