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Runlayer sues Rippling over alleged MCP gateway IP theft
AI‑security startup Runlayer filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court accusing HR‑software firm Rippling of trade‑secret theft, unfair competition and breach of contract. Runlayer alleges that during a nearly year‑long product trial it shared its Model Context Protocol (MCP) gateway roadmap, source code and architecture under a mutual non‑disclosure agreement, but after price talks collapsed on 12 June Rippling used that information to build a near‑copy. An insider texted Runlayer CEO Andrew Berman that Rippling was developing “an almost 1‑to‑1 copy” of the gateway. Runlayer is represented by Sullivan & Cromwell and seeks an injunction to block Rippling’s product. Rippling confirms it is launching its own MCP gateway but denies any misuse of Runlayer’s intellectual property. The case is part of a broader wave of AI trade‑secret disputes involving major tech companies.
Entities
Andrew Berman · Model Context Protocol · Parker Conrad · Rippling · Runlayer · Sullivan & Cromwell
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Runlayer filed a lawsuit against Rippling in Manhattan federal court alleging trade‑secret theft, unfair competition and breach of contract. thenextweb.com · techcrunch.com · www.webisland.net · www.sbctv.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] A Rippling insider texted Runlayer CEO Andrew Berman saying Rippling was building an internal project that was “almost a 1‑to‑1 copy” of Runlayer’s MCP gateway. thenextweb.com · techcrunch.com · www.sbctv.gr · www.webisland.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] Runlayer terminated the product trial on 12 June after price negotiations failed. thenextweb.com · www.sbctv.gr · www.webisland.net · techcrunch.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Runlayer is represented by the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and is seeking an injunction to block Rippling’s product. www.sbctv.gr · thenextweb.com · www.webisland.net · techcrunch.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The lawsuit is part of a broader wave of AI trade‑secret disputes involving major tech companies. thenextweb.com · www.sbctv.gr · www.webisland.net · techcrunch.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Runlayer shared its MCP gateway roadmap, source code and architecture with Rippling during a trial that lasted nearly a year. www.sbctv.gr · thenextweb.com · techcrunch.com · www.webisland.net
- [● 4 SOURCES] The parties signed a mutual non‑disclosure agreement and a trial contract that prohibited Rippling from copying Runlayer’s intellectual property. www.webisland.net · thenextweb.com · techcrunch.com · www.sbctv.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Rippling confirmed it is launching its own MCP gateway but denied using Runlayer’s intellectual property. www.webisland.net · thenextweb.com · techcrunch.com · www.sbctv.gr