Technology communications company VoIP, Inc., US, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Internet search services provider Google, Inc., US, in the New York Supreme Court. The company is accusing Google of stealing its trade secrets related to online voice technology.
The legal action stems from a September 2005 contract between Google and VoIP's Los Angeles-based subsidiary, VoiceOne Communications Corp. Under the deal, VoiceOne agreed to provide Google with its patented "Click to Call" technology that allows Internet users to place a call to advertisers or merchants simply by clicking a link on a website. The technology was designed to increase the value of online advertising by giving customers direct, free phone access to advertisers via their computers. VoIP is currently in bankruptcy proceedings.
VoiceOne was the designated carrier of phone calls initiated on Google websites under the agreement, according to the complaint. Google terminated the contract with VoiceOne in 2007, claiming that the company had violated a nondisclosure agreement by revealing that Google was its client, the suit said.
Google entered a 2006 joint venture with eBay and Skype related to Internet call services. VoiceOne argues that Google's justification for terminating the 2005 agreement was "a pretext" to allow the company to exploit VoiceOne's confidential information in its deal with eBay and Skype. The 'confidential information' includes source codes, algorithms and "know how" for monetising Internet phone calls.
The lawsuit claims trade secret theft, unfair competition, unjust enrichment and breach of contract and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, disgorgement of illegal gains, an injunction and attorney's fees.
In a similar move, Frontier Communications sued Google in June 2010 over its Google Voice product, which gives users one phone number to connect their home, work and cell phones. Frontier, a provider of phone, Internet and satellite TV services, alleged that Google Voice infringed on its patented invention that linked multiple phone lines to a single number. That litigation is underway in the District Court of Delaware.
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