Groupon Sues Google Employees for Allegedly Stealing Trade Secrets

Two former Groupon employees are being sued by Groupon for allegedly revealing company secrets to Google.

Michael Nolan and Brian Hanna left the online coupon site in September to join Google Offers, a competing daily deals site, Blomberg reports.

Chicago-based Groupon filed a civil complaint in Illinois court Monday (Groupon Inc. v. Hanna, 11CH3673). Groupon accused the two men of sharing Groupon customer lists and marketing plans with Google, among other things.

Groupon is not suing Google, just Nolan and Hanna, former Groupon sales managers.

Last year, Google offered $6 billion for Groupon, which the company rejected. About one month later, Google announced Google Offers.

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