According to a copyright infringement complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Merriam-Webster continued to use Questrel’s “Just-in-Time English” software after negotiations between the two companies for a new license agreement fell through. Questrel’s lawsuit also alleges breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. According to the complaint, the trade secret is Questrel’s software and related methods, techniques, or processes, which were misappropriated when Merriam-Webster continued to use the software without Questrel’s consent.
Pursuant to a forum selection clause in the License Agreement between the parties, the suit was transferred to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on March 24, 2011.