Oracle vs SAP

Interesting story doing the rounds this afternoon -

Oracle could look for £500 million in TomorrowNow damages
http://www.itpro.co.uk/604098/oracle-could-look-for-500-million-in-tomorrownow-damages

For those who have missed this and, if you don't follow SaaS news you may well have, here's a brief background:

Oracle, world's largest enterprise company, is suing TomorrowNow, a US subsidiary of SAP, another enterprise co., for corporate theft. Oracle claims TomorrowNow (which SAP bought in 2005) downloaded Oracle customer service materials and passed those documents to SAP. Naturally, Oracle are bit peeved.

Now it comes out that damages sounds hit £500 million. Ouch.

I'm guessing LarryEllison is trying to recoup some of the billions he's spent on acquisitions over the last few years... search Oracle on Google and I guarantee you the word 'aquisition' will follow close behind.

The interesting thing about this lawsuit, apart from the accusation itself, is that the whole saga has been played out in the press... and on these damn blogs. Press release after press release has been coming from SAP and Oracle... denials, accusation blah blah blah...

You'd think both companies would be saving a few pennies but you have to wonder how much money the two companies have been spending on PR stunts and journo lunches?