The Financial and Security Products Association (FSPA), an Albuquerque-based trade organisation for third-party ATM maintenance firms, has dropped an anti-trust lawsuit against Diebold which alleged unfair competitive practices with respect to the vendors ATM service policies.
The lawsuit was filed by the FSPA last October on behalf of its members, which include several third-party maintenance providers that service ATMs manufactured by Diebold and other vendors.
Last month, the US District Court for the Northern District of California denied a motion filed by FSPA seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Diebold from implementing its policies on ATM software, parts and documentation.
The court ruled that the FSPA had failed to demonstrate irreparable injury.
Diebold says the court also recognised that it was in the public interest to allow it the right to enforce the patents and copyrights of its intellectual property, particularly with respect to its diagnostic software and service manuals.
David Bucci, SVP of Diebold's customer solutions unit, says the decision clears the way for the firm to continue to make and build upon the considerable investments in its service technology and intellectual property.
""We have a long-standing policy of accommodating customers with flexible ATM service choices tailored to their needs," adds Bucci.