MoneyGram Loses Patent Infringement Case to Western Union

Western Union Wins Patent Infringement Lawsuit against MoneyGram

Jury Awards Damages Totaling $16.5 Million

Editor's Note:  Out of curiosity, I went to Western Union's website to price out how much they would charge to send $16,500,000 but the highest they would let me do was $16,5000.  Cost?  $709.99. (see below)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sep 25, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in the money transfer segment of global payments, announced that it has won a favorable jury verdict in a patent infringement lawsuit against MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.



The jury in the case returned a verdict yesterday in favor of Western Union and awarded damages totaling $16.53 million. The jury found that MoneyGram's FormFree system infringes Western Union's Money Transfer by Phone patents.

The lawsuit, filed by Western Union against MoneyGram in May 2007, alleged that MoneyGram infringed Western Union patents for a system of staging money transfers through a call center and completing transactions at an agent location. An investigation by Western Union revealed that MoneyGram was essentially replicating Western Union's patented Money Transfer by Phone service.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta and Pago Facil branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta operate through a combined network of more than 385,000 Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.



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SOURCE: Western Union Western Union

Tom Fitzgerald, + 1 (720) 332-4374

tom.fitzgerald@WesternUnion.com



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