Boston Globe Seeks Injunction against Local Direct Marketing Firm

Business Wire, Feb 6, 2007

BOSTON -- The Boston Globe filed suit in Middlesex Superior Court yesterday seeking sanctions against a Wilmington, MA printing company and six of its employees that would prevent them from using proprietary business information and trade secrets that they misappropriated from the Globe's direct marketing subsidiary, Globe Direct.

The Globe submitted evidence alleging that several former employees of Globe Direct conspired for months to steal confidential information and start a new company in direct competition for Globe Direct customers. In some cases, the employees literally packed up and carted off boxes of valuable information such as advertising customer files, lists, product samples and other information vital to maintaining Globe Direct's business, without authorization, the suit claims.

Most of the individuals named in the complaint had been long-term employees of the Globe Direct sales and marketing organization. Several were senior managers. All of the individuals recently resigned and joined Kirkwood Printing Company to create a new direct marketing business, Kirkwood Direct LLC.

The Globe also submitted evidence that Kirkwood employees are using that proprietary information to attract customers and sales away from Globe Direct. The complaint charges that the group solicited some customers for their new venture while still employees at Globe Direct.

Globe Direct had in effect appropriate measures for safeguarding business files, including password protected electronic files, with no off-site access; and paper copies of advertising agreements and other competitively sensitive information in locked files. The suit asks the court to grant a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction to prevent the "irreparable harm" that could result from the use of the information.

The court yesterday gave the defendants until February 14 to respond.

About the Boston Globe

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2006 revenues of $3.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, nine network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and 35 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.