Guidewire, a provider of core systems to property and casualty insurers, rebutted the charges in a release issued yesterday. In it, the company essentially accused Accenture of sour grapes.

"Accenture is using the legal system to fight a battle they are losing in the marketplace," said John Raguin, chief executive officer for Guidewire. "These allegations are a competitive tactic designed to disrupt our business. We're pleased that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has issued a preliminary ruling rejecting the claims in Accenture's '284 patent, the subject of Accenture's previous lawsuit against us, and we have now asked the U.S. PTO to re-examine the validity of the '240 patent, which is the subject of Accenture's latest allegations."

An Accenture Spokesman responded to Guidewire's statement with his own stern words.

"Defendants typically attack a patent's validity as a defense," he said. "However, we are confident that our patents will be upheld both at trial and by the patent office. When anyone violates our intellectual property, we will pursue all appropriate legal remedies to protect it."

It appears the courts will have the final say on the matter.

(Eric Gilkey is Editor In Chief of Claims magazine, part of Summit Business Media's P&C Magazine Group, which includes National Underwriter.)