National Jewish Health v. WebMD Health Services Group, Inc. et al

On October 25, 2012, National Jewish Health (“NJH”) brought suit against WebMD Health Services Group, Inc. and WebMD Health Corp.(collectively “WebMD”) in the United States District Court of the District of Colorado. The suit claims copyright infringement and contributory copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference with prospective business relations, conversion, and unjust enrichment under Colorado law, and breach of contract under New York law.

NJH is a Colorado-based nonprofit hospital; U.S. News & World Report has ranked NJH the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation for fifteen consecutive years. According to the Complaint, between 2002 and 2008, NJH developed “a set of software implemented wellness programs, including its FITLogix® and QuitLogix® programs.” (collectively “Programs”) The Programs help assist users with obesity and tobacco addiction, respectively. On February 4, 2010, NJH entered into a non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) with WebMD related to “Tobacco Cessation and Weight Management programs.” (“T&W programs”) Pursuant to the NDA, NJH presented WebMD with “Confidential Information” related to the Programs, including “operations, finances, plans and trade secrets . . . .” – all of which were proprietary information not known to the public.

In May 2010, NJH began negotiations with Lowes, Inc. (“Lowes”) to implement one or both of the Programs. After a “trial period,” during which NJH satisfied all of Lowes “approval criteria,” Lowes opted not to implement the Programs. NJH later learned that Lowes contracted with WebMD to implement WebMD’s program “My Lifetrack,” which “highly resemble(s)” the Programs. NJH alleges “My Lifetrack” uses “substantial portions of the [Programs’] sequencing, screen displays, textual material, and other content.” Prior to its agreement with NJH, WebMD did not “offer either stand-alone obesity or smoking cessation programs.”

In its NDA with NJH, WebMD was only permitted to use the Confidential Information related to the Programs for an “Authorized Purpose” – this was loosely defined in the Complaint as relating to “a potential business relationship or transaction [between NJH and WebMD] related to [T&W programs].” NJH’s misappropriation of trade secrets claim is based on WebMD’s alleged use of NJH’s Confidential Information (including its trade secrets) for unauthorized purposes, including “enter[ing] into the market for [T&W programs] . . . .” NJH seeks to enjoin WebMD from further implementing “My Lifetrack,” and also seeks damages (including punitive), and reasonable attorney’s fees.

This is the second trade secret misappropriation suit that WebMD is currently litigating. The first, WebMD Health Corp. v. Anthony T. Dale, is pending trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It features WebMD in a reversed role – suing a former employee for alleged misappropriation of WebMD’s trade secrets.

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