A California court ordered SAP, the German software corporation to pay their US rivals Oracle $1.3 billion in a data theft case that has been raging since March 2007. The case was based on Oracle’s claim that a subsidiary of SAP, TomorrowNow, had stolen customer support documents and software.

The plaintiff company claimed that SAP had the intention of using the collected information to poach the more than 300 customers involved. It demanded $1.65 billion in compensation amidst protests by SAP that it was only entitled to $40 million.

The jury, which deliberated for only a day, however heeded to Oracle’s request.
The trial ran for a duration of three weeks and included testimonies from SAP’s chief executive, Larry Ellison as well as its co-executive, Bill McDermot.

Following the verdict, SAP said it would pursue the courses of action available to it such as post-trial motions and appeals. The European giant however reiterated that it had accepted liability for its actions and was willing to compensate Oracle fairly.

Safra Catz, Oracle’s co-president said that the company was elated with the decision as the defendants had been, for more than three years, stealing copies of Oracle software and then reselling it as well as related services to clients of Oracle.

She went on to say that the trial revealed the knowledge of the underhand dealings by SAP’s senior most executives.

Eric Goldman, a professor of law at Santa Clara University noted that the verdict was a dream-come-true for Oracle.
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