Vodacom Please Call Me negotiations may be delayed

A dispute between Kenneth Makate’s lawyers and his financial backers may delay negotiations over compensation for Makate’s Please Call Me idea, Vodacom told Bloomberg.

This comes after the Mail & Guardian reported that Sterling Rand, the company which assisted in financially backing Makate’s eight-year legal battle, asked Vodacom to withhold at least 50% of any settlement due to Makate.

Sterling Rand said it was concerned that Makate and his lawyers, Stemela & Lubbe, would agree to a deal that excludes it.

“Our focus is on compliance with the order of the Constitutional Court which requires us to negotiate in good faith with Mr Makate,” said Vodacom.

Bloomberg reported that Sterling Rand has since brought forward an urgent interdict to delay Vodacom from negotiating with Makate and his lawyers.

The Pretoria High Court will hear the interdict on 14 June 2016.

More on the Vodacom Please Call Me case

Vodacom, don’t pay the Please Call Me inventor: Sterling Rand

Vodacom privately acknowledged me as the Please Call Me inventor: Kahn

Astounding “decision” by MTN regarding Please Call Me patent

Massive victory for Please Call Me idea-man against Vodacom

Vodacom Please Call Me case: the inside story