HiTouch changes to Gravit8 after court settlement with iTouch

Mobile services group iTouch, a subsidiary of Independent News & Media, has settled a two-year legal case taken against it by the digital media firm, HiTouch. It is understood the settlement involved payment of money to HiTouch, which had claimed iTouch was "passing off" under a similar name.

HiTouch, which was founded in 1998 by Mr Ronan Ó'Caollaí and employs five staff, has now changed its name to Gravit8 following settlement of the court case.

The firm initially took the case in the High Court almost two years ago, following iTouch's launch in March 2000. It subsequently made an application for security of costs in October 2001.

The company claimed the name of iTouch was practically identical to its own and, because both companies operated in the same market space, it would undermine HiTouch's brand identity.

Mr Ó'Caollaí, managing director of Gravit8, said yesterday he could not comment on the settlement. He said the firm was looking to the future to build the biggest digital media production base in the State.

Gravit8 is best known for its work with Eircom and Eircell in developing CD-ROMs for their internet service providers. But it will now shift its business model to provide digital media consulting and content to firms, according to Mr Ó'Caollaí.

"There are maybe two or three years left in the internet service provider market but our new focus will be delivering new mechanisms for software firms," he added.

Gravit8 is joint sponsor of National Digital Media Conference on May 1st with the mobile phone firm 02, The Irish Times, Hoson and others. The conference, which is being held at UCD, will consist of a morning of keynote addresses from digital media industry figures. In the afternoon the conference will divide into three breakout workshops: Finance and Industry Development; Telecommunications and Infrastructure; Media and Advertising.

Expert panellists will lead debate among the audience at these workshops in order to identify the most pertinent issues facing the industry.