**S SE Wins Early Legal Battle Against Celonis in Antitrust Case**
A recent ruling in a San Francisco federal court has favored S SE in a lawsuit initiated by Celonis SE, one of Europe’s leading startups. Celonis accused the German technology giant of abusing its market power by restricting access to data within its systems, allegedly to benefit its own subsidiary, Signavio. On Monday, the presiding judge dismissed the antitrust claims but allowed Celonis the opportunity to amend and refile its allegations.
Both Celonis and Signavio specialize in process mining software, which helps businesses identify and rectify inefficiencies in their enterprise systems. S SE stands as the largest provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, encompassing solutions for bookkeeping and procurement.
Following a recent court hearing, a spokesperson for Celonis expressed satisfaction that their interference claims would proceed. She emphasized the importance of allowing businesses the freedom to choose the best technology solutions without facing “interference, misinformation, or unfair restrictions.” In contrast, a representative from S SE reiterated the company’s stance, stating that they would continue to vigorously defend against Celonis’ claims.
US District Judge Vince Chhabria permitted a claim regarding interference with contractual relations to advance, allowing the discovery phase to commence immediately. In his ruling, Judge Chhabria noted that Celonis alleged S SE’s actions had led several of its customers to reconsider contract renewals, necessitating reassurances from Celonis to retain those clients. The judge deemed this situation a plausible disruption to Celonis’s contractual relationships.
William Kovacic, a law professor at George Washington University, remarked that Celonis appears to be exploring a novel antitrust theory, one that has not yet gained widespread acceptance in the courts. He described it as a theory of harm designed to navigate around existing legal precedents that afford dominant firms considerable leeway in their operations.
The case, titled Celonis SE v. S SE, is being heard in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
**FAQ**
**What is the main issue in the Celonis SE vs. S SE lawsuit?**
The lawsuit centers on Celonis SE’s allegations that S SE is using its market power to unfairly restrict access to data, thereby disadvantaging Celonis’s business operations.
