IBM’s deliberations concerning its approach to an automated tape library have taken a further twist as new evidence has surfaced in the Grau GmbH-Haushahn GmbH dispute over who has the rights to the valuable technology that IBM is seeking. For the deal which exists between Haushahn and IBM on the product (CI No 1,486) is now clearly in jeopardy. Earlier this year, a German patent court dismissed an injunction filed by Grau against Haushahn, leaving Haushahn to jointly market the technology with IBM, which has been itching to find a stop-gap rival product to the successful 4400 library from Storage Technology. In the last few days Gmund-based Grau has discovered that one of its research and development team had been passing secrets on lay-out and design to Stuttgart-based Haushahn: it promptly called in the police, who raided Haushahn and found those secrets on its premises. The result is that, in addition to the on-going patent dispute, Haushahn will be facing criminal prosecution under laws relating to the theft of trade secrets. A jubilant Herr Grau, who is likely to be called as chief witness when the case goes to trial in two weeks, notes that his relations with Big Blue have perceptibly improved as a result, and is looking forward to discussing possible joint marketing agreements for the tape library, first in Germany, then throughout Europe.
