Uber Technologies cannot use a forum selection agreement to move a former technology partner's intellectual property suit to Brazil, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge held Wednesday.
Suffolk County Superior Judge Debra A. Squires-Lee denied Uber's attempt to move its litigation to Brazil in a case filed by Zemcar, doing business as Grip Mobility Co., in a dispute over in-car driver and passenger recording technology. The companies partnered for a pilot program in São Paulo to test Grip's "Sentinel" application and Grip subsequently filed litigation accusing the defendants of using its patented technology. Uber relied on a master service agreement that contained a mandatory forum selection clause, arguing it was under the jurisdiction of Brazil courts.