Database giant Oracle has amended its lawsuit against rival SAP, alleging the German software firm copied Oracle's software and support materials, including minor errors in the original versions.

According to the claims, SAP and subsidiary TomorrowNow copied proprietary software and support materials by accessing a password protected customer support web site.

As a third party support and maintenance provider, TomorrowNow can access Oracle systems to retrieve required information covered in their customer’s contract.

But Oracle has added copyright infringement and breach of contract to its original claims, alleging TomorrowNow systematically accessed files and software beyond what is allowed.

‘Oracle has identified more than 10,000 unauthorised downloads of software and support materials relating to hundreds of different software programs,’ says the amended law suit.

Unusually heavy download activity occurred on the site, which offers support for PeopleSoft and JD Edwards product lines, in November and December last year, with access originating from an SAP branch office in the US, says the claim.

‘Oracle has invested billions of dollars in research, development, and engineering to create these materials, which include program updates, software updates, bug fixes, patches, custom solutions, and instructional documents,’ it says.

Oracle is seeking to stop further violates and recover damages related to the alleged unauthorised downloads.

SAP says it will defend itself against the charges.