Google Wins Venue Ruling in GoogleApps Dispute

(CN) - The 7th Circuit rejected LimitNone's effort to keep a multimillion-dollar contract claim against Google in Illinois, instead of having it transferred to California courts.

The Illinois-based software firm accused Google of cheating it out of a $950 million business opportunity after it helped Google create a tool for integrating mail from Microsoft Outlook to GoogleApps.

LimitNone claimed Google swiped the "gMove" idea and repackaged it as the "Google Email Uploader," which it gave its customers for free.

LimitNone wants the case to be heard in Illinois courts, but Google was able to get a transfer order based on their non-disclosure agreement, which stipulates that all disputes are to proceed in Santa Clara County, Calif.

LimitNone asked the Chicago-based appeals court for a writ of mandate blocking the district court's transfer order, but the 7th Circuit refused.

In issuing the order, the lower court never addressed the merits of the case, the judges ruled. Jurisdiction is vital only if the court intends to rule on the merits, the ruling states.

The court also noted that LimitNone can move to remand the case after the transfer.

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