A US jury has ordered German business software giant SAP to pay US rival Oracle €1.3 billion in damages in a record-setting copyright infringement award.
Oracle laywers called the copyright damages award the highest ever and hailed the verdict as a resounding warning that stealing intellectual property from technology companies will not be tolerated.
SAP subsidiary TomorrowNow recovered and copied massive amounts of Oracle software and confidential data by posing as clients, according to court documents.
A customised software tool dubbed 'Titan' was allegedly used to plunder Oracle's website of patches, updates, fixes and other programmes crafted for Oracle's paying customers.
SAP admitted to the copyright infringement in legal 'stipulations' that cleared the way for a jury trial regarding how much should be paid to Oracle in damages.
SAP will study its legal options before deciding whether to appeal the verdict or petition the judge to reduce the amount, a company spokesman said. SAP was interested in putting the unflattering case behind it, he added.
SAP could negotiate with Oracle to agree on a reduced settlement payout in exchange for not appealing the verdict. No matter what amount SAP winds up paying Oracle, the case threatens to cost the German firm its reputation as a trusted vendor of business software.
