SAP wants to cut Oracle payout

GERMAN SOFTWARE HOUSE SAP is hoping to cut down the amount of money that it must pay to Oracle from $1.3bn as it currently stands.

The firms have been involved in an argument over Tomorrownow, a firm set up to assist Peoplesoft customers keen on moving away from that firm after it was bought by Oracle. Tomorrownow was bought by SAP, but closed in 2008. In 2010 Tomorrownow was found liable for copyright infringement and SAP was ordered to pay the $1.3bn in question.

SAP has publicly apologised for its actions, or at least the actions of Tomorrownow, but Oracle consistently pushed for more money from the firm. Larry Ellison, who has a boat or something to run, made some pretty high demands for reparations, but finally the number was settled.

Well, at least until now. Reuters reports that in a hearing on Wednesday SAP will ask for a lower damages amount or for the damages to be tossed out completely.

This will likely annoy Oracle, which has already asked for interest on top of the $1.3bn, but firmly cements SAPs stance, which earlier was that the damage award should be in the thousands rather than millions or billions. µ