Teradata sues German tech giant

RELATED: Teradata is moving Dayton HQ to San Diego

SAP, a German technology giant, released a statement saying the lawsuit “surprised” it.

Teradata — which in recent weeks announced that it is closing its Miami Twp. offices by year’s end — charges that SAP has engaged in “a decade-long campaign of anti-competitive behavior, to the detriment of the parties’ customers and Teradata alike.”

Teradata said SAP “lured” it into a “purported” joint venture to gain access to Teradata’s intellectual property.

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“SAP’s purpose for the joint venture was to steal Teradata’s trade secrets, developed over the course of four decades, and use them to quickly develop and introduce a competing though inferior product, SAP HANA,” Teradata said in its statement. “Upon release of SAP HANA, SAP promptly terminated the joint venture, and SAP is now attempting to coerce its customers into using HANA only, to the exclusion of Teradata.”

Teradata seeks an injunction barring SAP’s conduct, monetary damages and other relief the court may see fit to grant.

Reuters news service has reported that Teradata’s lawsuit draws on allegations by a “whistle-blower” whom Reuters said has been identified as former internal SAP auditor Thomas Waldbaum.

In a statement, SAP said it was “surprised” to learn of the complaint.

“Although SAP generally does not comment on pending litigation, SAP may issue a statement, if appropriate, after it has had an opportunity to review the complaint,” the company said.

Earlier this month, Teradata said it was moving functions from its offices in Miami Twp.’s Austin Landing, affecting 267 of 306 Dayton-area jobs.

Teradata is offering 39 Dayton-area employees a chance to continue working in the Miami Valley. The company will also offer 202 Dayton-area employees a chance to move to other company locations.