Spring Design, which recently released its Android-based Alex e-reader, has sued Barnes & Noble over the Nook e-reader, claiming B&N "misappropriated trade secrets" and "violated a non-disclosure agreement surrounding Alex technologies."
The company says it started filing patents for Alex in 2006 and was holding conference calls and meetings with B&N execs beginning in 2009. Alex's feature set was discussed confidentially with those execs under a non-disclosure agreement
Says Eric Kmeic, Sprin Design VP of Sales and Marketing: "Spring Design unfortunately had to take the appropriate action to protect its intellectual property rights. We showed the Alex e-book design to Barnes & Noble in good faith with the intention of working together to provide a superior dual screen e-book to the market."
There is no word on what damages Spring is hoping for or expecting. B&N denied comment.
Says Eric Kmeic, Sprin Design VP of Sales and Marketing: "Spring Design unfortunately had to take the appropriate action to protect its intellectual property rights. We showed the Alex e-book design to Barnes & Noble in good faith with the intention of working together to provide a superior dual screen e-book to the market."
There is no word on what damages Spring is hoping for or expecting. B&N denied comment.
