Seattle-based company Egraphs, which sells digital written and audio messages from MLB stars to fans, is “being sued by a Florida company that says it came up with the idea of electronic signatures first,” according to Frank Witsil of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. Egraphs unveiled its digital autographs last month and it is “unclear how the lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 10 in Pinellas County, Fla., will affect Egraphs.” St. Petersburg-based Autography co-Founder Tom Waters “alleges in his lawsuit that Egraphs executives stole his idea for the digital signatures after he [met] with them and shared trade secrets under confidentially agreements.” He said that he “wants the court to stop Egraphs from doing business and is seeking damages.” Egraphs declined to release sales figures on how many autographs have been sold overall, but Egraphs Business Development Dir and former MLBer Gabe Kapler said that the company “now has deals with 32 ballplayers on 13 teams, and plans to have at least one player from every MLB team by the end of next month” (FREEP.com, 8/17).
