Gag Order Denied in Oracle, SAP Trial

Bad news for SAP, Hewlett-Packard, it’s new CEO Léo Apotheker and anyone else tarred and feathered in Oracle CEO Larry Ellison’s recent fusillade of anti-SAP broadsides. A federal judge has denied a request for a gag order in the increasingly contentious legal battle between Oracle and SAP.

According to a court filing made public this morning (click on image above to enlarge), U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton denied Oracle’s request for a three-day delay in the trial and ordered it to begin as scheduled on Monday, without the additional restrictions on extrajudicial communication SAP had requested.

Nonetheless, SAP–which, in a change of strategy, will not contest Oracle’s allegations that it contributed to acts of copyright infringement committed by its discontinued TomorrowNow unit–pronounced itself satisfied, saying in a statement, “The decision to narrow the scope of the trial and to start the trial on time will keep the focus on the core issues and eliminate the unnecessary sideshow. This will increase the chance of a faster resolution and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

So expect jury selection to occur on Monday, opening arguments on Tuesday and the rhetorical jousting we’ve seen to date to continue.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Ellison Taunts HP CEO a Second Time
• SAP to Ellison: Save the Drama for Your Mama
• Ellison to HP CEO: “Warrior, Come Out to Plaaeeay!
• SAP: Please Gag Oracle
• HP Scandal Sucks in New York Times Columnist Over Conflict of Interest
• Welch to HP Board: You Don’t Know Jack!
• Insiders Criticize Ellison For HP CEO Slam
• Was Apotheker HP’s First Choice of CEO?
• HP Names Ex-SAP Chief Apotheker as CEO