Isentia Accuses Rival Meltwater of Breach

Australia-based media monitoring group Isentia is reportedly challenging competitor firm Meltwater Australia in a Federal Court, claiming its MD and others have breached its contracts and defrauded local publishers.

According to marketing publication www.mumbrella.com.au , Isentia is accusing Meltwater Aus MD Shasank Mohapatra, his wife and associates of offering Isentia's print monitoring services including 'Slice' and 'Mediaportal' to their own clients, in breach of their contract. It also says Meltwater has defrauded local publishers, including News Corp Ltd and Fairfax Media, of copyright revenue; made a series of false and misleading statements to customers; and failed to honour undertakings it made last year after other accusations of breach of contract. Lastly, it believes Meltwater 'has connections with an Indian organisation scraping Isentia's content', according to Mumbrella.

Originally known as Media Monitors, Isentia reported revenue up 22.6% to $AUD 155m last August, and EBITDA up 20% to $AUD 51m, chiefly as a result of its 2015 acquisition of King Content. It also bought South Korea-based media intelligence firm Social Net Creator a year ago.

Isentia is seeking urgent injunctions restraining Meltwater's conduct along with damages and costs and will be returning to court in Sydney on June 20th. A Meltwater spokesman told Mumbrella the company was aware of the allegations, does not condone or promote such activities and intends to strenuously defend the matter.

San Francisco-based Meltwater is online at www.meltwater.com and Isentia at www.isentia.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.