WPL ordered to post bond in case involving SAS® software license breach

Judge also orders WPL to deposit US revenue into escrow to protect $79 million judgment against them

Found liable for fraud and a software license breach against SAS, World Programming Ltd. (WPL) has been ordered by a federal judge to post bond and deposit US revenues received in excess of the bond amount into escrow to safeguard the $79 million judgment until the appeals process ends.

In October 2015, a federal jury awarded SAS $26.4 million in damages when it found that WPL violated its software license for SAS^® Learning Edition by reverse engineering portions of the product to create its World Programming System software (WPS), as well as using SAS Learning Edition for production purposes. In addition, the jury found that WPL committed fraud and awarded SAS another $3 million in punitive damages. The jury also found that WPL violated the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which mandates the awarding of trebled damages to SAS, with the cumulative judgment totaling over $79 million.  

John Boswell, Chief Legal Counsel for SAS, said, “When the jury issued its fairly quick verdict back in 2015, it validated the fact that WPL was engaging in unfair and illegal acts. SAS has continued doing business as it always has – by putting our customers first and developing innovative software that makes a difference to their businesses, and their lives. That will always be our primary focus.”  

SAS is being represented by Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP.