Oracle extends SAP espionage charges

SAP 'stole code' in addition to support materials, Oracle alleges

Written by Tom Sanders in California

vnunet.com, 04 Jun 2007

Oracle has filed new charges against SAP in the corporate espionage case between the rival enterprise software vendors.

Oracle first sued SAP in March 2007, claiming that SAP's TomorrowNow subsidiary had infringed on Oracle copyrights by downloading large amounts of support material from an Oracle website intended only for paying customers.

The new amendments to the complaint allege that SAP also used log-in credentials from legitimate clients to download software for which SAP and its clients had not purchased a licence.

SAP is also accused of downloading an Oracle-developed daylight saving time (DST) patch and distributing it as its own.

"The copied version even includes minor errors in the original DST solution that Oracle later corrected," Oracle said in its legal complaint.

TomorrowNow specialises in supporting PeopleSoft applications. SAP acquired the company in 2005 and has been using it to poach PeopleSoft customers.

SAP has declined to comment on the Oracle charges. The company has previously stated that it respects Oracle's intellectual property and will vigorously defend the case.