'Too vague': Infosys responds to Cognizant's trade secret theft allegations
What's the story
Infosys has reiterated its allegations against Cognizant, calling its claims of trade secrets theft 'too vague' in a case related to the latter's healthcare software, TriZetto. Both companies have sued each other in the US. Cognizant says Infosys used proprietary information from TriZetto's QNXT and Facets products to create its own competing platform. Meanwhile, Infosys countersued Cognizant, accusing it of engaging in anti-competitive practices.
Legal dispute
Cognizant's allegations and Infosys's response
Cognizant said that Infosys was caught "red-handed misappropriating TriZetto trade secrets." In its response, Infosys criticized Cognizant for offering vague background information about the Facets and QNXT software. The IT giant also accused Cognizant of contradicting itself on the confidentiality of certain documents. Initially marked as "highly confidential," these documents were later declassified, allowing public access.
Documents
Challenging Cognizant's confidentiality claims
Infosys also noted that Cognizant failed to spot any specific test cases related to the allegedly stolen trade secrets. This, Infosys argued, is critical for the court to ascertain if any misappropriation had taken place. Earlier, Infosys had told the court that the information in question was publicly available. However, Cognizant alleged that Infosys had illegal access to confidential data through non-disclosure and access agreements (NDAAs).
Counter allegations
Infosys accuses Cognizant of anti-competitive practices
Infosys has denied Cognizant's allegations and claimed the information in question was publicly available. The Bengaluru-based company also blamed Cognizant of engaging in anti-competitive practices. This legal battle comes as both companies vie for the second spot in India's IT services segment, behind Tata Consultancy Services. In the December quarter, Infosys reported $4.94 billion in revenue, while Cognizant earned slightly more at $5.08 billion.