SunGard Higher Education sues hosting provider Cajana

In a case that, at least on the surface, has some vague similarities to Oracle's lawsuit against SAP over its now shuttered TomorrowNow unit, Malvern-based SunGard Higher Education filed suit in February against Cajana, an Atlanta-based provider of application management and hosting services.

The complaint, filed in the US District Court's Southern Division of Ohio, charges Cajana with copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets. It refers specifically to application management and hosting services provided by Cajana to Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio beginning late last year. By providing these services, SunGard contends, Cajana has access to SunGard's intellectual property and trade secrets without SunGard's explicit permission as required by contract. SunGard also says that Cajana has been soliciting several other Ohio schools to provide similar services. Sungard seeks an injunction and potentially compensation for damages.


In a response filed with the court in March, Cajana says SunGard HE has "unclean hands" because it "brought this action solely for the improper purpose of gaining an unfair and unlawful competitive advantage in the marketplace and with the goal of interfering with Cajana’s business relations and prospective business relations with its customers".

Cajana's existing Higher Education business appears to be more closely aligned towards supporting Oracle's PeopleSoft product line geared towards that segment.

SunGard Higher Education is a unit of Wayne-based SunGard Data Systems.

The case is No. 2:11-CV-00148-JLG-TPK. Documents can be viewed through PACER (registration required and fees may apply).