Donovan Accuses Starcom of Nabbing Trade Secrets
ADOTAS — Donovan Data Systems Inc., which provides the software used by most media-buying firms, has accused former customer Starcom MediaVest Group, Inc., of stealing trade secrets, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The software and technology supplier allows media buyers to book advertising time, make sure the ads run, send bills and make payments. In a December Supreme Court of the State of New York filing, Donovan accused Starcom of conspiring with MediaBank LLC of “cloning and reverse engineering” its technology.
Starcom’s customers include Proctor & Gamble Co., Kraft and Pizza Hut. Starcom and MediaBank deny the allegations, the Journal reports. In court documents. Starcom said that its contract with Donovan did not end Dec. 31 as Donovan said and that it would be “irreparably harmed” if it didn’t have access to Donovan’s services. The court denied the company’s request for an injunction to prevent Donovan from cutting its service, according to The Journal.
Starcom and Donovan are currently in arbitration and Starcom is getting its software services from MediaBank and Datatech, a firm MediaBank recently bought.
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