Oracle May Ask for Billions More in Legal Battle with HP

By

Oracle has upped its damage estimate from $2 billion to at least $4 billion or $5 billion in a legal battle that only Aaron Sorkin could write.

Oracle’s CEO, Larry Ellison, is accusing Hewlett Packard’s incoming CEO of hatching a scheme to steal Oracle's software by rival SAP AG. SAP has admitted in court documents that it stole Oracle's software. A jury must determine how much SAP should pay Oracle to settle the case, with Oracle now seeking about $5 billion in damages and SAP aiming to settle for just tens of millions of dollars. In fact, an attorney for SAP said the company believes it owes Oracle about $40 million.

Ellison is expected to take the stand next week in what’s expected to be an entertaining performance by a flamboyant billionaire who’s known for his public outbursts.

Ellison will present evidence that HP's now CEO Leo Apotheker was involved in wrongdoing. In August, HP’s Mark Hurd resigned his position amid a sexual-harassment scandal. Oracle promptly hired him as one of its presidents. Then HP hired SAP's former CEO, Leo Apotheker, to replace Hurd and named former Oracle COO, Ray Lane, as its chairman.

Former SAP executive board member Shai Agassi has said Apotheker was one of two SAP executives put in charge of TomorrowNow, the now-defunct SAP subsidiary that improperly downloaded the stolen software, after SAP acquired it.

According to a Reuters report, in a confidential transaction, SAP has already agreed to pay Oracle $120 million toward its legal fees in exchange for Oracle taking punitive damages off the table.

Oracle and HP’s relationship has gone downhill fast. Last month, the two companies reaffirmed their long-term strategic partnerships and issued gushing press releases that read, “HP and Oracle have been important partners for more than 20 years and are committed to working together to provide exceptional products and service to our customers.”




Edited by Tammy Wolf
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. [Free eNews Subscription]

TechZone360 Contributing Editor

SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Related Articles

ChatGPT Isn't Really AI: Here's Why

By: Contributing Writer    4/17/2024

ChatGPT is the biggest talking point in the world of AI, but is it actually artificial intelligence? Click here to find out the truth behind ChatGPT.

Read More

Revolutionizing Home Energy Management: The Partnership of Hub Controls and Four Square/TRE

By: Reece Loftus    4/16/2024

Through a recently announced partnership with manufacturer Four Square/TRE, Hub Controls is set to redefine the landscape of home energy management in…

Read More

4 Benefits of Time Tracking Software for Small Businesses

By: Contributing Writer    4/16/2024

Time tracking is invaluable for every business's success. It ensures teams and time are well managed. While you can do manual time tracking, it's time…

Read More

How the Terraform Registry Helps DevOps Teams Increase Efficiency

By: Contributing Writer    4/16/2024

A key component to HashiCorp's Terraform infrastructure-as-code (IaC) ecosystem, the Terraform Registry made it to the news in late 2023 when changes …

Read More

Nightmares, No More: New CanineAlert Device for Service Dogs Helps Reduce PTSD for Owners, Particularly Veterans

By: Alex Passett    4/11/2024

Canine Companions, a nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of veterans (and others) suffering PTSD with vigilant service dogs, has debuted …

Read More