ACI Worldwide wins declaratory judgment granting all requested relief in software licensing dispute

Client(s) ACI Worldwide Corp.

Jones Day client ACI Worldwide Corp. ("ACI") won a declaratory judgment granting all of ACI's requested relief against defendant Churchill Lane Associates, LLC ("Churchill") in a case arising from a dispute between the parties concerning software licensing royalties. ACI sought a declaration that it owned the technology at issue and did not owe Churchill any further royalties. Churchill filed counterclaims seeking, among other things, an accounting and payment of ongoing royalties worth millions of dollars.

Jones Day was retained as lead counsel in the matter shortly before the scheduled discovery cutoff in the case. Upon being retained, we performed an expedited review of the facts and law at issue and pursued an aggressive litigation strategy that included drafting and filing an amended complaint, identifying and pursuing third party discovery, and drafting and filing a supplemental summary judgment brief. Our team also represented ACI executives during their depositions in the case.

Shortly after ACI filed its supplemental summary judgment brief, the court stayed all proceedings pending its summary judgment ruling. In ruling on the motion for summary judgment, the court adopted the arguments ACI presented in the supplemental summary judgment brief and entered a declaratory judgment granting all of ACI's requested relief. The declaratory judgment states that ACI owns the technology at issue "free and clear" of any obligation to Churchill, has made "timely, final and full payment of all amounts due to Churchill," and that no additional licensing fees can become due to Churchill.

ACI Worldwide Corp. v. Churchill Lane Assoc., LLC, Case No. 14-cv-249 (D. Neb.); No. 16-1736 (8th Cir.)