KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) has been served with a writ and statement of claim by Ocado Innovation Ltd, a subsidiary of UK-based online grocery technology company Ocado Group, over allegations of patent infringement involving warehouse automation and robotics technologies.

In the suit filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Ocado alleges that Pentamaster had developed, used, or facilitated the use of such systems that infringe its intellectual property rights.

Pentamaster strongly denied the allegations, stating its intention to file an application to strike out the suit, which it considers to be baseless allegations.

"Pentamaster maintains that it has no involvement with the specific technologies or systems described in the claim," the Penang-based automated test equipment company said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Thursday. "Pentamaster will take the necessary steps to make the application to strike out this claim against them."

In the suit, Ocado is seeking legal remedies, including a declaration of infringement, an injunction to restrain Pentamaster from further use of the disputed systems, and an order for the destruction or surrender of any infringing products.

Ocado is also demanding damages or an account of profits allegedly derived from the infringement, along with legal costs. However, the value of the claims was not disclosed.

Pentamaster assured that the litigation is not expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial position or operations, aside from legal fees incurred in the defence process. The company said it has engaged legal counsel to explore all avenues to either dismiss the claim or defend against it in court.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has scheduled Jan 14 for case management.

Shares of Pentamaster went up two sen to RM4.18 on Thursday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM2.98 billion.