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22,000 files and an explosive job change

As reported by heise.de with reference to Handelsblatt, SAP, Germany's flagship software company, is suddenly under fire – and not just symbolically. Its US competitor o9 Solutions has filed a lawsuit in the US: three former o9 executives, who now work for SAP, are alleged to have stolen more than 22,000 confidential files and taken them with them when they changed jobs.

This case involves highly sensitive trade secrets and an accusation that is explosive in the tech business. o9 accuses SAP of conducting an "aggressive campaign" to deliberately poach customers and copy business areas. At the heart of the accusation is SAP's IBP (Integrated Business Planning) software, which, according to o9, strongly resembles its own solutions following the data theft.

SAP: Exemption instead of admitting fault

SAP itself has so far rejected the allegations. A spokeswoman said that there was "no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the company." Nevertheless, SAP has suspended three executives—precisely those who were previously employed by o9. Or, as the official statement puts it, the three individuals are "currently leaving the company."

Why is SAP taking this step even though it claims to be not at fault? That remains unclear. The only thing that is clear is that the case is considered "sensitive" internally, according to company insiders. And when you look at the circumstances, that comes as little surprise.

According to Handelsblatt, SAP is arguing in court that the Texas court does not have jurisdiction—after all, the three managers are Dutch citizens who transferred from the o9 branch in the Netherlands to the SAP branch in the Netherlands. It sounds complicated—and that's exactly what it is.

Competition or economic thriller?

o9 is convinced that the change was no coincidence, but part of a deliberate strategy. SAP took not only personnel, but entire ideas with it—including confidential customer information. As an example, o9 cites Henkel, a former top customer that has now apparently ended up at SAP.

Functional similarities between the products and marketing materials are also cited. The accusation is that SAP deliberately adapted its offering to make it "deceptively similar" to that of o9—thanks to insider knowledge that is said to have been passed on when staff changed jobs.

How we assess this

It's not just about files – it's about trust. And regardless of how this case ultimately ends up in court, the damage to SAP's image has already been done. Suspending three executives without giving a clear reason does not come across as confident – rather, it looks like a preemptive attempt to save face.

When corporations start to "take over" not only minds but entire databases, the line between competition and white-collar crime becomes dangerously blurred. And the trick of questioning the venue of the court case is a classic one that hardly sounds like genuine transparency.

The tech world thrives on innovation, not well-copied know-how. So anyone who thinks they can gain strategic advantages with a few mouse clicks risks more than just a lawsuit. Namely, their reputation—and that's something you can't simply copy back.

Sources: handelsblatt.de, heise.de