Oracle accuses LV company of software theft

Oracle is suing Las Vegas-based Rimini Street, claiming the local computer support company engaged in "a massive theft" of Oracle's software.

Lawyers for Oracle USA and Oracle International Corp. filed the federal lawsuit Monday in Las Vegas against Rimini and its president and CEO, Seth Ravin. The complaint alleges copyright infringement, unjust enrichment and breach of contract. The complaint also seeks to prevent Rimini from downloading and copying Oracle's software.

The 13 charges made by Oracle in the complaint also allege violations of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California's Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, and unfair competition.

The lawsuit alleges Rimini claims to be a support provider to companies that license some of Oracle's software applications, including PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards and Siebel-branded software.

"Central to Rimini Street's business model is the illegal downloading of Oracle's software and support materials in a scheme that is vast in scope, consisting of many thousands of software and support materials," the complaint says.

Oracle alleges that Rimini logs onto Oracle's protected Web site using customer credentials and downloads Oracle software in excess of what the customers have authorized. Rimini and Ravin have also made thousands of illegal copies of Oracle software to use for "low-cost support" for Rimini customers.

The lawsuit claims Ravin was an owner of an earlier company, SAP, which admitted to illegally copying Oracle software after being sued by Oracle in 2007.

However, Rimini Senior Vice President of Global Affairs Dave Rowe said Ravin had sold that company in 2005 -- two years before Oracle sued SAP.

In a statement, Ravin claimed Oracle's motivation was to stifle competition.

"I believe Oracle's actions are an attempt to forestall competition and limit market choices for its software licensees."

Contact reporter Valerie Miller at vmiller@lvbusinesspress.com or 702-387-5286.