Internet and Technology
Representing companies in cutting edge technology litigation is a thriving and growing part of our practice. We have also counseled many of our clients on issues flowing from technology-related matters, including privacy and intellectual property issues. Highlights include:
- We successfully defended IBM in consumer class action litigation regarding its Deskstar line of Hard Disk Drives, and also in litigation involving consulting services provided for installation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software. Two of those cases, in which IBM won summary judgment rulings, were affirmed on appeal by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Seventh Circuits.
- We are currently representing Envestnet Asset Management in litigation pertaining to the ownership of its proprietary software platform.
- We were national coordinating counsel for Seattle-based RealNetworks, Inc. - the streaming media pioneer and industry leader in delivery of video and audio over the Internet - in its defense of fourteen putative “privacy” class actions alleging that “RealJukebox” software surreptitiously tracks the viewing and listening habits of individual users. These cases were favorably resolved based on a strategy Grippo & Elden developed and implemented.
- We subsequently represented RealNetworks in putative class action litigation pending in California, Washington and before the AAA regarding alleged consumer deception involving the RealOne on-line subscription service. Those cases were favorably resolved following pre-trial class certification and arbitration rulings that gutted the litigation.
- Following our work for RealNetworks, Amazon.com retained Grippo & Elden to assist with its defense of consumer class action litigation and patent litigation regarding on-line personalization technologies.
- We are currently representing Stafford Trading in litigation pertaining to the ownership of a proprietary computer trading system.
- On behalf of Technology Solutions Company, a software and integration consulting firm, we obtained a multimillion-dollar jury verdict against defense contractor Northrop relating to Northrop’s failure to pay for computer consulting services related to the B-2 bomber.
- Prior to our defense of IBM in ERP cases, we represented (and favorably resolved) claims involving ERP software for a number of leading companies, including claims against GEAC/JAB, the largest software concern in Canada.
- We have been litigation counsel for EMC2 Corporation, the market leader in enterprise storage hardware and related services, in a variety of Chicago-based lawsuits. These cases span the spectrum of commercial litigation, involving products liability, breach of contract, employment and arbitration-related issues.