Removal Papers Argue Consumer Fraud Act Claim Sounds in Copyright
LimitNone v. Google, Inc., No. 08 C 4178 (Manning, J.).
Last month I posted that LimitNone, a Chicago company, sued Google for trade secret misappropriation seeking $1B -- click here for that post. Earlier this week, Google removed the case to the Northern District, arguing that LimitNone's Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act ("ICFA") claim sounded in copyright and, therefore, was preempted by the Copyright Act creating federal question jurisdiction (click here for Google's removal papers).
In its complaint, LimitNone alleged that Google entered a nondisclosure agreement with LimitNone to review LimitNone's gMove software -- software that helps Microsoft Outlook users migrate data to the Google platform. Google allegedly assured LimitNone that it would not offer a competing product. But after receiving LimitNone's trade secrets, including its software code, and promoting the $19 gMove software, Google allegedly began offering a free, competing software package which allegedly used LimitNone's trade secrets. LimitNone has not filed any responsive papers or pleadings yet, but I will keep you updated if LimitNone challenges the removal.
