Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Alan M. Grimaldi Qvo hac vice application anticipated) Ann Marie Duffy (VSB No. 48653)
MAYER BROWN LLP 1999KSt.NW
Washington, DC 20006-1101
Tel: 202-263-3000 Fax: 202-263-3300
agrimaldi@mayerbrown.com aduffy@mayerbrown.com
A. John P. Mancini Qvo hac vice application anticipated) Vanessa M. Biondo {pro hac vice application anticipated) Elizabeth M. Winokur {pro hac vice application anticipated)
MAYER BROWN LLP
COMPLAINT FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AND OTHER RELIEF AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Plaintiffs Segin Systems, Inc. ("Segin Systems") and Segin Software, LLC (d/b/a
RynohLive) ("Segin Software") (collectively, "Segin" or "Plaintiffs"), by and through their attorneys, Mayer Brown LLP, for their complaint against defendants Stewart Title Guaranty Company ("STGC"); Propertylnfo Corporation ("PIC") (collectively, "Stewart"); and First
Banking Services, Inc. ("FBS") (collectively with Stewart, "Defendants"), allege as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1.
Failing in its attempt to acquire the rights to Segin's Rynohi/ve real estate
settlement software, Stewart misappropriated highly confidential material that was only disclosed to Stewart pursuant to nondisclosure agreements governed by Virginia law. The
points, and other information developed by Segin's founders. Stewart and FBS used this
material to launch, injust a few short months, a copycat real estate settlement technology that,
according to FBS, works just like Rynoh. This action for breach of contract and patent infringement seeks: (i) preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent Defendants'
continued use of Segin's intellectual property; (ii) damages arising from the Defendants' patent infringement and breach of contract; (iii) an order directing Defendants to account for any
confidential material disclosed to third parties or otherwise used in violation of the nondisclosure
agreements; and (iv) an order directing Defendants to return all information furnished under the
nondisclosure agreements and reproductions of such information.
PARTIES
2.
Virginia and having its principal place of business at 397 Little Neck Road, 3300 South
Building, Suite 306, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452. It was founded in January 2005 for the
purpose of developing software for the title and real estate settlement industry, including
RynohLive.
3.
Systems, organized in 2008 under the laws of Virginia, and having its principal place ofbusiness
at 397 Little Neck Road, 3300 South Building, Suite 306, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452.
4.
Defendant STGC is a corporation organized under the laws of Texas and having
its principal place ofbusiness at 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77056.
STGC is one of the nation's largest title insurers.
5.
Defendant PIC is a corporation organized under the laws of Texas and having its
principal place ofbusiness at 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77056. PIC
is Stewart's real estate technology company, and the successor of former Stewart technology
divisions, Landata Systems, Inc. ("Landata") and First Data Systems, Inc. ("FDS").
6. Defendant FBS is a corporation organized under the laws of Tennessee and
having its principal place ofbusiness at 315 Hickerson Drive, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129.
FBS develops banking, sub accounting, escrow accounting, and reconciliation products and
services that it offers to financial institutions and real estate title insurance companies.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
7.
This Court has federal subject matter jurisdiction over this action under 28 U.S.C.
in substantial business activities in the State of Virginia. Defendants transacted, solicited, and
conducted business in Virginia through their employees, agents, and/or sales representatives, and
derived substantial revenue from such business causing injuries to Segin in Virginia. In addition,
this Court has personal jurisdiction over Stewart because this is a patent infringement and breach
of contract action "arising out of and "relating to" nondisclosure agreements that Landata and FDS (PIC's predecessors and STGC's affiliates) entered into with Segin Systems, by which PIC
and STGC are bound. The consent provisions provide that "[t]he Virginia state courts of the
City of Norfolk (or, if there is exclusive federal jurisdiction, the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division) shall have exclusive jurisdiction and venue
over any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and the Recipient hereby consents
to the jurisdiction and venue of such courts."
9.
1391(c), including, without limitation, because a substantial part of the events giving rise to the claims occurred in thisjudicial district, Defendants are advertising, marketing, using, selling and/oroffering to sell products in thisjudicial district, and Defendants are subject to this Court's
personal jurisdiction with respect to the present action.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
I.
10.
began experimenting with the concept of a real estate settlement software that would combat the
pervasive escrow theft and mishandling of settlement funds resulting from the inability of the
title insurance industry to self police, which had been costing the industry hundreds of millions
of dollars in losses per year.
11.
In January 2005, Reass founded Segin Systems for the purpose of developing
software that would provide the internal controls that the title insurance/settlement industry
lacked, by ensuring the integrity of financial transactions. Among other things, Segin Systems
invested substantial amounts of time, money, and intellectual capital researching this novel
concept and developing the technology to actualize it.
12.
13.
eReconcile/Positive Pay (the "TAP Project"), automates the various transactions required to
complete a real estate settlement and provides real-time (or near real-time) performance of
several of these transactions, thereby simplifying the settlement process and reducing, if not
eliminating, fraudulent transactions.
14.
RynohPay - a fully automated near real-time positive pay system that ensures that only
validated checks are honored by the bank. RynohPay either provides automatic inputs to the clients' bank positive pay system, or is a standalone solution for those agents whose
bank does not provide that service.
RynohTrax - verification and validation of user defined critical transactions, both receipts and disbursements. Typical reconciliation systems reflect only what hasoccurred. RynohTrax provides notification for those critical items that are not being posted to the
account for either payment or credit.
potential issues mitigates or totally eliminates loss from fraud or error. A "Reconciliation Analysis" feature further identifies transactions whose status may represent audit or
regulatory issues.
RynohReport - a comprehensive set of daily reports that enable proactive management and oversight of financial activities. One of those is the "Morning Report" - a daily analysis report of escrow account activity and integrity. Emailed to designated recipients,
the report contains user defined alerts of critical transactions, reconciliation status, and available funds by file/subaccount. The "Morning Report" reflects those critical time
sensitive items requiring immediate attention.
RynohSecure - enables the insurance underwriter or regulator to continuously monitor and fully audit account activity on a near real-time basis. Anti-fraud algorithms, funds
verification protocols, and other techniques generate alerts whenevera suspect or potentially fraudulent event is detected.
http://www.rynoh.com/index.php/home/about-us (last accessed Apr. 9, 2013). 15. Since its introduction, RynohLive has "identified defalcation, wire and ACH
fraud; stopped employee embezzlements; eliminated check fraud and disbursing errors and saved
its clients millions of dollars within the settlement industry." Id.
16.
RynohLive quickly became viewed as the salvation of the title insurance industry,
and its use has been mandated on numerous instances by title insurance underwriters to mitigate
the staggering losses caused by agent escrow theft and the mishandling of settlement funds. 17. As explained in detail below, Segin Systems attempted to protect its intellectual
to promote RynohLive and solidify Rynohl/w's position as a market leader, was, in actuality, upon information and belief, funneling over four years of Rynoh/ve development details to a third party (FBS) to enable and facilitate the cloning of RynohZ./ve and the launch ofa directly
competing software, in violation of the NDAs and Segin's intellectual property rights.
19. Although the growth of RynohLive has continued, Defendants' unlawful conduct
has already caused Segin substantial and irreparable harm, and it will continue to do so if
Defendants are not stopped.
II.
20.
RynohLive was not Reass's first major contribution to the title insurance industry.
Before developing RynohZ./ve, Reass created and deployed several software applications that
streamlined title agency operations, including, for example, the industry's first transaction management system, a document scanning and imaging system with an automatic filing
Agency, Inc. ("Reliant Title"), far ahead of its competitors and garnered the attention of Stewart,
which is one of the nation's largest title insurers.
22.
In light of Reliant Title's success, when Reass first spoke to Stewart about the
TAP Project/RynohZ./w in late 2004, Stewart was interested in getting involved. 23. To protect Segin Systems's intellectual property, Segin Systems and certain
Stewart entitiesentered into nondisclosure agreements ("NDAs"). Landata and FDS, both
Stewart companies and predecessors of PIC, entered into the NDAs on their own behalf as well
as on behalf of their officers, directors, agents, employees, and affiliates. The Landata NDA was
executed on or around February 23, 2005. The FDS NDA was executed on or around April 24, 2005. True and correct copies of the NDAs are attached hereto as Exhibit A and Exhibit B
respectively.
24.
The Recipient acknowledges that Segin claims its Confidential Information as a special,
valuable and unique asset. For itself and on behalf of its officers, directors, agents,
employees, and affiliates (each an "Affiliate"), the Recipient agrees that it shall:
a. Keep in confidence all Confidential Information, and that it will not directly or indirectly disclose to any third party or use for its own benefit, or use for any purpose other than an assessment of the TAP Project, any
Confidential Information it receives from Segin;
b.
number of Affiliates necessary in order to assess the TAP Project and only
to those Affiliates who have executed binding and enforceable
TAP Project, and in particular, not use the Confidential Information in competition with Segin nor use it in any unlawful manner; and
e. Use reasonable care to protect the Confidential Information, and in no event use less than the same degree of care to protect the Confidential
the TAP Project, whether provided in writing, orally or in any other medium." Exs. Aand B
(NDAs) 13.
26.
27.
The NDAs also state that"[a]ll information furnished under this Agreement shall
remain Segin's property and shall be returned to it at its request together with all copies, extracts, plans, schematics, or other reproductions in whole or in part made of such information by the
Recipient." Id. H6.
28.
Additionally, the NDAs provide that "[t]he Recipient acknowledges that its
breach of this Agreement will result in immediate and irreparable harm to Segin, for which there will be no adequate remedy at law, and Segin shall be entitled to equitable reliefto compel the
Recipient to cease and desist all unauthorized use and disclosure of Segin's Confidential
Information." Id. ^ 9.
29.
The NDAs are governed by Virginia law, and provide for the exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of this Court over any federal dispute arising out of or relating to the
NDAs. See id. ffll 16-17. Specifically, the NDAs provide that "[t]he Virginiastate courts of the
City of Norfolk (or, if there is exclusive federal jurisdiction, the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division) shall have exclusivejurisdictionand venue
over any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and the Recipient hereby consents
to the jurisdiction and venue of such courts." Id. f 16.
30.
With the NDAs in place and enforceable against the Stewart entities and their
successors {see id. ffi| 2, 14), the parties' discussions advanced. Over the course of the next
several years, while developing the TAP Project/RynohA/ve, Reass met on numerous occasions with Stewart representatives in Houston, Nashville, and Virginia Beach to discuss the prospect of
forming a Stewart-RynohZ./ve relationship.
31.
Under the arrangement discussed by the parties, Stewart would purchase from
Segin Systems the rights to utilize Segin Systems's RynohLive technology, Segin Systems would
integrate RynohLive with Stewart's settlement software (AIM/AIM+), and Stewart would use its
resources and strong industry presence to promote the use of RynohLive. Per the proposed
32.
RynohLive relationship, and Stewart, through PIC, made its first official offer that December.
33. Stewart's offer was insufficient and was rejected by Segin Systems.
34.
After being told that its offer was too low, Stewart continued to express interest in
utilizing RynohZive and made additional, targeted requests for information, under the pretext of
intending to finalize a deal.
35.
With the NDAs in place, Segin Systems continued providing Stewart with
Confidential Information, including, among otherthings, the essential data elements for the
AIM+ interface along with the RynohZ,/ve infrastructure requirements.
36.
On August 21, 2009, Stewart made another targeted request for Confidential
Information (details regarding Ryno\\Secure, the latest of the five interrelated RynohL/ve
modules), offering no hint of Stewart's plan to launch a competing settlement software system.
After providing the requested information that day, Segin Systems heard nothing more from
Stewart. AgencySecure, Stewart's product, was launched just two months later.
HI. The Launch of AgencySecure
37.
In October 2009, two months after Stewart requested and received the last of the
the primary component of which is a RynohLive clone that FBS allegedly "developed" for
Stewart.
38.
When questioned by Segin Systems, Stewart indicated that it had chosen to utilize
a competing vendor's technology instead of Segin's RynohZ,/ve What Stewart did not explain,
however, is that, upon information and belief, Stewart had agreed to provide FBS with the
RynohLive algorithms, interfaces, connection points, and other information developed by Segin
that would (and did) enable FBS to "develop" a competing technology for AgencySecure almost
instantly and with minimal expenditures of its own; in exchange, FBS had agreed to an exclusive
three-year contract with Stewart.
39.
40.
Now that the three-year exclusivity period has expired, FBS intends to expand
41.
FBS likely would not have agreed to any period of exclusivity if it had
42.
Upon information and belief, the Stewart representatives - who, under the NDAs
in place, spent years studying the development of Segin's RynohLive, including several days and
weeks in face-to-face meetings in addition to communicating by email and telephone about
RynohLive - were instrumental in the launch of AgencySecure, providing FBS the Confidential
Information of Segin Systems that it needed in order to duplicate RynohLive.
43. The settlement software utilized in AgencySecure was and is identical to
Stewart's help - copied each and every key feature and function of RynohZ,/ve: (1) its fully
automated near real-time positive pay system that ensures that only validated checks are honored by the bank; (2) its verification and validation feature that provides notification for certain userdefined critical transactions; (3) its automatic daily three-way reconciliation service that
identifies accounting and postingerrors, alerts users of potential fraud and error, and identifies
transactions whose status may represent audit or regulatory issues; (4) its comprehensive daily
reporting system; and (5) its anti-fraud algorithms, funds verification protocols, and other techniques that generate alerts whenever a suspect or potentially fraudulent event is detected, thereby enabling the insurance underwriteror regulatorto continuously monitor and fully audit
account activity on a near real-time basis.
44.
AgencySecure.
Segin did not discover until 2012 that FBS played a role in developing
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45.
similarities between AgencySecure and RynohLive, FBS itself announced that AgencySecure
works just like Rynoh.
46.
Defendants have not only misappropriated Segin's technology, but they are
exploiting its goodwill and reputation to promote AgencySecure, and are unfairly benefiting
from the expense, time, effort, and labor that Segin expended in developing and promoting
RynohLive.
IV. The '939 Patent
47.
patent.
48.
On April 23, 2007, Reass and Taylor filed U.S. Patent Application No.
eReconcile LLC the entire right, title, and interest in and to any and all patents that may issue
from Application No. 11/788,876. On March 13, 2008, eReconcile LLC assigned and transferred to Segin Software the entire right, title, and interest in and to any and all patents that
may issue from Application No. 11/788,876. 50. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office duly and legally issued U.S. Patent No.
8,165,939 ("the '939 patent") to Segin Software on April 24, 2012. Entitled "Method of Settling
a Real Estate Transaction and System Implementing the Method," the '939 patent teaches a method for settling real estate transactions and outlines a web-based, automated, and integrated
system for ensuring the integrity of financial transactions. A true and correct copy of the '939
patent is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
51.
52.
Segin Software is the owner of all right, title, and interest in the '939 patent,
including the right to sue and recover damages and equitable relief for its infringement.
53.
Segin Software has complied with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 287 and marks
its products by identifying the '939 patent on the "Registration" page of the RynohLive website.
54. At the latest, Stewart became aware of the '939 patent on or about June 15, 2012,
when Reass spoke with Stewart representatives at a Texas Land Title Association meeting.
During this conversation, Reass informed Stewart that Segin Software had received a patent on
the RynohLive invention in April 2012.
55.
AgencySecure, and actively produced, marketed, solicited sales for, and sold their AgencySecure
product, which infringes one or more claims of the '939 patent.
56. At least as of June 15, 2012, when Stewart became aware of the '939 patent, it has
known or should have known that its nearly-identical product likely infringes the '939 patent and
has been willfully and deliberately infringing one or more claims of the '939 patent.
57.
58.
of the NDAs and their infringement of the '939 patent have caused Segin substantial and
irreparable harm.
59.
Defendants have unlawfully exploited, and are continuing to exploit and profit
from, Segin's Confidential Information and the hard-earned goodwill and reputation of Segin's
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RynohLive, and are unfairly benefiting from the expense, time, effort, and labor that Segin
expended in developing and promoting RynohZ./vtj.
60.
Moreover, pursuant to the arrangement that Segin Systems and Stewart discussed
extensively and in detail from 2005 to 2009, Stewart should have launched RynohLive instead of
the cloned technology. The Stewart-Rynohl/ve relationship would likely have been finalized
absent the Defendants' unlawful conduct.
61.
profited from the substantial fees and royalties that Stewart and Stewart customers would have
paid Segin for the use of RynohZ,/ve; the product marketing and advertising that Stewart would
have contributed; the resources and global reach and presence that only Stewart could have
offered; the expanded customer base that Segin would have realized; the increased profitability
of each customer relationship; and the numerous other business opportunities that would have
and prestige. But instead, Defendants' gain was, and continues to be, Segin's irreparable loss of,
inter alia, prestige, recognition, goodwill, profits, and customers.
62.
(Patent Infringement)
Stewart's Infringement of the '939 Patent
63.
64.
Segin Software is the owner of all right, title, and interest in the '939 patent.
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65.
Upon information and belief, Stewart is now and has been directly infringing the
'939 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling in the United States, and/or
importing into the United States, products and/or services that are covered by at leastclaim 1 of
the '939 patent, including, by way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure.
66.
patent.
On or around June 15, 2012, Stewart had full and actual knowledge of the '939
67.
Upon information and belief, Stewart is now and has been, since at least June 15,
2012, contributingto infringement of the '939 patent by others by selling and/or offering to sell
within the United States, and/or importing into the United States, materials and/or apparatuses
for use in practicing the method described in at least claim 1 of the '939 patent, including, by
way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure. Upon information and belief,
Stewart knew that these materials and/or apparatuses were especially made or adapted for use in an infringement of the '939 patent, are a material part of Segin's invention, and have no
substantial, non-infringing use; and Stewart's actions have in fact contributed to another's direct
infringement of at least claim 1 of the '939 patent.
68.
Further, upon information and belief, Stewart is now and has been actively and
knowingly inducing the infringement of the '939 patent by others, with knowledge of Segin
Software's patent rights and without reasonable basis for believing that its conduct is lawful. Upon information and belief, Stewart is now and has been, since at least June 15, 2012, with specific intent and requisite knowledge, actively and knowingly inducing infringement of the
'939 patent by soliciting, assisting, and/or fostering customers' use of products and/or services
that are covered by at least claim 1 of the '939 patent, including, by way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure. Upon further information and belief, Stewart knew or
willfully blinded itself from knowing that such products and/or services infringe at least claim 1
of the '939 patent, and that the induced acts constitute infringement of at least claim 1 of the
'939 patent.
69.
Stewart, with full and actual knowledge of the '939 patent, nonetheless committed
and continues to commit at least the aforementioned infringing acts despite an objectively high
likelihood that these actions constitute infringement of a valid patent. Further, under the
circumstances, Stewart knew or should have known of this objectively high risk.
70.
of the '939 patent, entitling Segin Software to enhanced damages under 35 U.S.C. 284 and
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
71.
Stewart's infringement of the '939 patent has been without express or implied
license from Segin Software, and will continue unless enjoined by this Court. 72. As a direct and proximate consequence of Stewart's infringement of the '939
patent, Segin Software has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury and damages in
an amount not yet determined, for which Segin Software is entitled to relief.
FBS's Infringement of the '939 Patent
73.
74.
Segin Software is the owner of all right, title, and interest in the '939 patent.
75.
Upon information and belief, FBS is now and has been directly infringing the
'939 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling in the United States, and/or
importing into the United States, products and/or services that are covered by at leastclaim 1 of
the '939 patent, including, by way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure.
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76.
FBS's infringement of the '939 patent has been without express or implied license
from Segin Software, and will continue unless enjoined by this Court.
77.
Segin Software has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury and damages in an
amount not yet determined, for which Segin Software is entitled to relief.
COUNT II
(Breach of Contract)
78.
79.
On or about February 23, 2005, PIC's predecessors, Landata and FDS, entered
81.
Among other things, the NDAs provide that Landata, FDS, their affiliates, and
their successors must not use the Confidential Information for their own benefit, in competition
with Segin Systems, or for any purpose other than to assess the TAP Project/RynohZ,/ve.
82. Because PIC is the successor of Landata and FDS, and STGC is and was an
affiliate of PIC and its predecessors, the confidentiality provisions of the NDAs are binding on
and enforceable against the Stewart entities.
83.
84.
Upon information and belief, Stewart and its predecessors breached, and Stewart
continues to breach, the NDAs by using the Confidential Information for their own benefit, in
competition with Segin, and/or for purposes other than assessing the TAP Project/RynohZ,/v<?. In particular, upon information and belief, Stewart and its predecessors used the Confidential
17
Information to launch competing products and/or services including, by way of example and not
limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure, launched in 2009, and Stewart continues to use the
Confidential Information for its own benefit.
85.
In addition, in 2012, Segin Systems discovered that FBS had played a role in
developing AgencySecure.
86.
87.
Systems has suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury for which Segin Systems is
entitled to relief.
88.
prevent Stewart from using, promoting, or selling, competing products and/or services including,
by way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure.
89.
Segin Systems is also entitled to the return of all information furnished under the
90.
Finally, Stewart's breach of the NDAs has caused Segin Systems substantial
damages in anamount not yet determined for which Segin Systems is entitled to relief.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray that this Court grant the following relief:
a) A judgment that Defendants are now and have been directly infringing the '939 patent by making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling in the United States,
and/or importing into the United States, products and/orservices that are
covered by one or more claims of the '939 patent, including, by way of example
and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure;
b) A judgment that Stewart is now and has been contributing to infringement of the '939 patent by others by selling and/or offering to sell within the United States,
and/or importing into the United States, materials and/or apparatuses for use in
practicing the method described in one or more claims of the '939 patent, including, by way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure;
c) Ajudgment that Stewart is now and has been, with specific intent and requisite
f) Ajudgment that Stewart is now and has been breaching the NDAs by using
Segin Systems's Confidential Information for its own benefit, in competition
with SeginSystems, and for purposes other than assessing the TAP
Project/RynohZ,/ve;
assigns, and all others controlling, controlled by, or affiliated with Defendants,
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and all those in privity or active concert or participation with any of the
foregoing from:
i. Making, using, offering to sell, and/or selling in the United States, and/or importing into the United States, products and/or services that are
covered by one or more claims of the '939 patent, including, by way of example and not limitation, Defendants' AgencySecure; ii. Selling and/or offering to sell within the United States, and/or importing into the United States, materials and/or apparatuses for use in practicing
the method described in one or more claims of the '939 patent,
20
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Dated:
April 12,2013
SUUlllllllU, Respectfully submitted.
By:
t
Alan M. Grimaldi
{pro hac vice application anticipated) Ann Marie Duffy (VSB No. 48653)
MAYER BROWN LLP
1999 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20006-1101
Tel: 202-263-3000 Fax: 202-263-3300
agrimaldi@mayerbrown.com aduffy@mayerbrown.com
A. John P. Mancini
1675 Broadway
New York, NY 10019-5820
Tel: 212-506-2500
Fax: 212-262-1910
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