Starwood claims Hilton stole records.

• Position: DATA SECURITY - Brief article

The Starwood hotel group has accused Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) of stealing 100,000 computer files in what it claims is "the clearest imaginable case of corporate espionage, theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, and computer fraud."

HHC hired two top executives away from Starwood last summer. Recently, it unveiled its swanky Denizen brand meant to compete with Starwood's W hotels. In a 91-page writ filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Starwood claims its two former directors, who had previously been responsible for its W brand, "directly and through other Starwood luxury brand employees they recruited to Hilton, stole more than 100,000 electronic files before and after they joined Hilton."

The claim alleges this information "was used to expedite Hilton's entry into the lifestyle hotel market, reposition its luxury brands, and substantially reduce its costs and risks...