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 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. See Lieschke v. RealNetworks, Inc., 2000 WL 198424 (N.D. Ill.); In re RealNetworks, Inc. Privacy Litigation, 2000 WL 631341 (N.D. Ill.); RealNetworks, Inc. v. Superior Court of Orange County, 2001 WL 1527492 (Cal. App. 4th Distr., Nov. 30, 2001) (Unpublished).
- We are currently representing 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.
- 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 personaliztion technologies.
- On behalf of Technology Solutions Company, a software and integration consulting firm, we recently 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.
- We are currently defending 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.
- 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.