A lawsuit filed by Surreal Holdings against Amazon Web Services points to a video by popular aviation and travel vlogger Sam Chui as evidence that their work for Amazon and Emirates was not confidential. The lawsuit alleges that AWS wrongly terminated their software development agreement and owes more than $1.27 million. Amazon cited Surreal’s promotion of the Emirates project on its website, as well as the inclusion of AWS and Emirates logos in a site footer, as breaches of confidentiality to justify terminating the larger agreement.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, references a segment in a video by Sam Chui from the Dubai Airshow. Chui’s video included a demo at the Emirates booth where he tried a virtual cabin crew experience using a VR headset. The segment did not mention Surreal’s involvement in creating the experience. Despite this, Surreal alleges that AWS and Emirates did not compensate them for their work on the demo, claiming that it was a “partner effort” and that compensation should have been negotiated in advance.
The lawsuit alleges that the inclusion of the AWS and Emirates logos in the footer of the website did not specify Surreal’s work for the companies, and therefore did not constitute a breach of confidentiality. Surreal claims that they had the potential to earn over $15 million in license and support fees over five years from their broader agreement with AWS related to the Emirates work before the contract was terminated. The work was part of a collaboration between AWS and Emirates to create immersive extended reality experiences for Emirates employees, including crew training.
Amazon did not respond to a request for comment from GeekWire, and Emirates, though not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, also did not respond to an inquiry. The lawsuit alleges that neither AWS nor Emirates ever paid Surreal or its vendor for the work performed on the demo. The suit also asserts that the termination of the agreement was unjustified and that the work done by Surreal was not confidential, as evidenced by the video segment from Sam Chui that showcased the VR demo at the Emirates booth during the Dubai Airshow.
The lawsuit, filed by Surreal Holdings of Alpharetta, Ga., against Amazon Web Services, brings to light a dispute over a software development agreement related to work done for Emirates. The suit alleges breaches of confidentiality and wrongful termination of the agreement by AWS, claiming that Surreal is owed over $1.27 million. The lawsuit points to a video by popular vlogger Sam Chui as evidence that the work done by Surreal for Amazon and Emirates was not confidential, leading to the termination of the agreement between Surreal and AWS.
Overall, the lawsuit highlights the complexities and disputes that can arise in business agreements and collaborations, particularly in the realm of software development and technology. The case underscores the importance of clarity and communication in contractual agreements, as well as the potential financial consequences that can result from breaches of confidentiality and termination of agreements. The lawsuit raises questions about the responsibilities and obligations of companies like Amazon Web Services and Emirates in compensating their partners for work performed on collaborative projects.
