Source: Experian
Experian Marketing Services, a leader in helping marketers target and better engage their customers, today announced it has entered into a settlement agreement with a group of affiliated California companies and individuals in a multicount legal action stemming from Experian's allegations that the defendants were engaging in the unauthorized buying and selling of Experian marketing data.
As part of the settlement, the defendant data brokers agreed to a mid-six-figure monetary payment to Experian, to destroy all "black market" Experian data in their possession, and to cease and desist from any further trafficking of unauthorized Experian data.
Experian Marketing Services filed suit against the settling California defendants in December 2008 for misappropriation, trademark infringement, unfair competition and deceptive business practices, among other issues and claimed that the defendants were illegally profiting from the robust intellectual property and goodwill of Experian.
"Individuals and companies that unlawfully trade in the intellectual property of others are engaging in unfair and deceptive business practices, and we will protect our business by pursuing cases like this to the fullest extent of the law," said Rick Erwin, president of the Data Division of Experian Marketing Services. "Such conduct not only hurts Experian, but also degrades the value and integrity of marketing data, which adversely impacts the entire industry."
The complaint against the California defendants was filed by Experian in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.