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Technion Institute of Technology
Microsoft. No permission
Photo: AFP
Technion suing Microsoft for NIS 25 million
Institute of Technology subsidiary claims software giant uses marketing programs developed by one of its professors without permission
The Technion
Research and Development Foundation (TRDF) filed a NIS 25 million (roughly $6.5 million) damages claim against Microsoft and Microsoft Israel, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The organization claims that Microsoft is using online marketing software developed by a Technion professor and that it is doing so despite the TRDF's refusal to release the rights for it and without paying anything in exchange.
According to the lawsuit, TRDF is a for-profit subsidiary owned by the Technion Institute of Technology and serves as its business branch.
It alleges that in 2008 Microsoft purchased intellectual property, trade secrets, marketing software and the staff of Israeli firm YaData for almost NIS 150 million (nearly $40 million.)
The TRDF claims that the technology was largely the brainchild of Professor Rann Smorodinsky, a full-time member of staff at the Technion, and that the intellectual property belongs to the Technion. It was further stated that the TRDF refused to sell the property or allow YaData/Microsoft to use it.
Microsoft Israel said it was unaware of any lawsuit at this time.
