Software ag timely filed this motion following the courts entry of judgment in accordance with the jurys verdict, finding in favor of plaintiff globeranger corporation globeranger on its trade secret misappropriation claim and awarding globeranger. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger conspiracy by software ag middleware giant software ag conducted an elaborate corporate espionage scheme replete with sex, lies and an audiotape, according to. The navy ordered globeranger to stop its subcontracting work and said it would convert the three existing instances to the enterprisewide system. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger conspiracy by software ag cio. Recently our colleagues natalie arbaugh and rex mann discussed the fifth circuits decision in globeranger corp. Middleware helps different computer systems work together.
Middleware giant software ag conducted an elaborate corporate espionage scheme replete with sex, lies and an audiotape, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed by rfid radio frequency. Globeranger claimed that software ag misappropriated its rfid technology after taking over globerangers. Globeranger alleged that software ag wrongfully obtained copies of its software. Software ag and two systems integrators are accused of an elaborate scheme to steal rfid trade secrets. Finally, the court rejected software ags claims of error in regard to the. Globeranger uses the example of a company using middleware to target its marketing by connecting its customer database with its ordering system. Automated inspections for aviation emergency equipment. Globeranger says it was cheated out of navy work dallas.
By justia opinion summaries plaintiff, developer of a passive radio frequency identification rfid system for commercial use, alleged a number of texas claims against a group of software companies in state court. Visibility enterprisesoftware ag had not implemented rfid for a client. Mar 02, 2011 then came a woman named kim gray, who works for an alaskabased software company called naniq systems llc. Middleware giant software ag conducted an elaborate corporate espionage scheme replete with sex, lies and an audiotape, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed by rfid vendor globeranger. However, this was only the opening move in software ag s plan, globeranger alleged. Thereafter, when software ag was creating the navys enterprisewide system, it accessed globeranger s trade secrets and then globeranger sued for misappropriation of trade secrets. Software ag, which dwarfs globeranger in size, had an irresistible motive. You would never know this is a fujitsu company because fujitsu is incredible when it comes time to image, honesty and integrity. Nov 01, 2016 what is the best intellectual property protection for software. In a 2015 trade secret misappropriation case involving susman godfrey client globeranger s radio frequency identification rfid technology, globeranger alleged that software ag wrongfully obtained copies of its software system as deployed at navy depots, reverseengineered the trade secrets from the globeranger software, and then created a. The navy ordered globeranger to stop its subcontracting work and said it would convert the three existing instances to the enterprisewide system, the panel recalled. Mar 26, 2011 lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger conspiracy by software ag. Learn from software experts like bayareanewsgroup and the dallas morning news. While working on the navy contract, software ag accessed some of globerangers data, manuals and software.
Federal jurisdiction under doctrine of complete preemption. According to globeranger, gray had an affair with robert bacon, the program director for the navys rfid efforts. As the complaint alleged only conversion of intangible property for which there is equivalency between the rights protected under that state tort and federal. We take decadesold processes and replace them with our accredited solutions. Lawsuit filed by richardsonbased globeranger accuses competitors of stealing its technology to win a u. Software ags next contentionand one of the more complex issues in this caseis that globeranger did not prove that software ag acquired any of its alleged trade secrets improperly, and therefore failed to prove the second element of texas trade secret misappropriation. As the complaint alleged only conversion of intangible property for which. Inside apples design process during the golden age of steve jobs. Therefore, the court upheld the jurys finding of trade secret use. Software ag, which dwarfs globeranger in size, had an irresistible motive, the complaint adds. Susman godfrey represented an instore advertising company in a lawsuit. The online courses are offered to employees, contractors, customers and partners who qualify and register for the course through their globeranger account manager.
Manufacturings smart inventory partner for asset tracking. In a 2011 complaint, globeranger accused software ag of accessing globeranger data, manuals and software to complete the project. Parties, docket activity and news coverage of federal case globeranger corporation v. It found that globeranger did not prove malice, and so was not entitled to punitive damages, nor did it prove conspiracy. On september 7, 2016, the fifth circuit in globeranger corp. Accordingly, the fifth circuit ruled that globerangers trade secret claim. Globeranger offers some of its traditional instructor led classes in a selfpaced, online course format. We also affirmed the denial of globeranger s motion to remand based on actual or possiblethis is the source of the intense debate preemption of the conversion claim.
Software ag challenges that result on a number of grounds, but its principal argument is that globeranger finds itself in a jurisdictional. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger software ag conspiracy it. What is the best intellectual property protection for. See who you know at globeranger, leverage your professional network, and get hired. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger conspiracy by software ag software ag and two systems integrators are accused of an elaborate scheme to steal rfid trade secrets. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at globeranger. Aug 17, 2012 globeranger has a generic rfid software platform named imotion.
Federal copyright preemption of state law claims still a. A flexible platformbased system that supports multiple applications through rfid radio frequency identification technology, our combination of industry knowledge and proven iot solutions make us the manufacturers choice above and beyond other general software. Nov 19, 2007 a spokesman for software ag on monday said the company has not been formally served with the lawsuit and thus had no comment. Software ag s sales of adabas and related products grew 5% in the companys most recent quarter. Nissan sues software ag over extraordinary license demands. Software ag had appealed the district courts judgment arguing, among other things, that globerangers trade secret claim was preempted by. The court found that the trade secret claim is not preempted but that a dismissed conversion claim was preempted and supports federal jurisdiction. Lawsuit home, find case, find lawyer,legal solution. Dec 17, 2010 globerangers lawsuit does not disclose the size of the navy contract it was seeking. Navy contract that globeranger had been pursuing for years. Globeranger claimed that software ag misappropriated its rfid technology after taking over globeranger s subcontract with the navy to implement the technology.
Jan 30, 2017 the central allegation in that case was that competitor software ag misappropriated globerangers radio frequency identification rfid technology most commonly used in electronic readers in tollbooths, like ezpass after it had taken over software ags subcontract with the u. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger conspiracy by software ag. Read software books like sv150 doubletruck 042416 and lawsuit for free with a free 30day trial. Thereafter, when software ag was creating the navys enterprisewide system, it accessed globerangers trade secrets and then globeranger sued for misappropriation of trade secrets.
A flexible platformbased system that supports multiple applications through rfid radio frequency identification technology, our combination of industry knowledge and proven iot solutions make us the manufacturers choice above and beyond other general software providers. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger software ag conspiracy. Globeranger products include the imotiontm platform which provides the software infrastructure that connects the physical world of automated data collection using rfid technology with enterprise software systems. In november 2014, melton tried and won a theft of trade secret lawsuit on behalf of dallasbased globeranger corporation against germanbased software ag alleging misappropriation of globeranger s proprietary radio frequency identification rfid technology. We also affirmed the denial of globerangers motion to remand based on actual or possible this is the source of the intense debate preemption of the conversion claim. Globeranger uses rfid technology to manage its inventory. Software ag owns software entitled webmethods that globeranger characterizes as middleware.
Globeranger uses the example of a company using middleware to target its marketing by connecting its customer database with its. He also declined to say whether software ag recently has made any changes to its customer auditing program. Globeranger utilizes this software along with a customized physical placement of rfid tags, readers, and servers for each customer in order to deploy an rfid system. Globerangers claim is not preempted, software ag asserts that the court. The suit also alleges that gray was also in a relationship with german company software ag. Globeranger has created a suite of solution accelerators and configurable applications atop the imotion platform to quickly develop. Lawsuit alleges cloakanddagger conspiracy by software ag arn. The district court denied software ags motions for judgment as a matter of law.
Globeranger and software ag a larger, more general software company, the navy went withsoftware ag s proposal rooted inits webmethods software platform. Middleware giant software ag conducted an elaborate corporate espionage scheme replete with sex, lies and an audiotape, according to allegations in a lawsuit filed by rfid radio frequency identification vendor globeranger. Globeranger sued software ag in federal court for trade secret misappropriation. The litigation alleges that software ag usa was receiving a u. Globeranger s lawsuit does not disclose the size of the navy contract it was seeking. Rfid technology is not new, globerangers complaint notes.
Jul 19, 2018 although not giving a definitive answer on the matter, the united states district court for the north district of texas found in globeranger corp. Finally, the court rejected software ag s claims of error in regard to the damages award and affirmed the award. In november 2014, melton tried and won a theft of trade secret lawsuit on behalf of dallasbased globeranger corporation against germanbased software ag alleging misappropriation of globerangers proprietary radio frequency identification rfid technology. Globeranger offers an faa federal aviation administration approved automated inspection process for aviation emergency equipment including life vests, o 2 generators, and fire extinguishers. Among other reasons, globeranger contended it lost the contract because software ag misrepresented that it developed the navys existing rfid system. Globeranger online training courseware globeranger. It stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars from stealing globerangers technology and. Globeranger also alleges that software ag, in order to gain a competitive advantage, misrepresented that software ag developed the navys rfid system. In this case, globerangers trade secret misappropriation claim requires. On the merits, the court concluded that globeranger s evidence is sufficient to show that software ag used the navy solution in developing its own product. Although not giving a definitive answer on the matter, the united states district court for the north district of texas found in globeranger corp. What is the best intellectual property protection for software.
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