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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

E-Textbook Seller Says| Rival Swiped Its Database

CHICAGO (CN) - Ugenie used a Web crawler to steal more than 2 million pages of Follett Higher Education Group's copyrighted material by which college students buy textbooks online, Follett claims in Federal Court.

Follett runs more than 750 real campus bookstores, and helps more than 4 million students at more than 1,000 campuses match their courses to the textbooks they need, through eFollett's "Course Tracks" software. It claims Ugenie, of Burlingame, Calif., began offering a similar service in August. Follett claims Ugenie created its database by stealing it from Follett. It claims Ugenie used "spiders" or Web crawlers to download 237,000 pages from "Course Tracks" in June, and more than 1.5 million pages in July. Follett says it spent $14 million and 100,000 work hours developing its database and system, and Ugenie violated contract by stealing it. Follett demands punitive damages for computer fraud, copyright infringement, unjust enrichment, trespass and breach of contract. It also demands accounting and an injunction. Follett is represented by Holland & Knight. See complaint.

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