Lawsuit alleges ESPN pirated minor league statistics

NEW YORK (AP) _ A company providing minor league baseball statistics said in a lawsuit Monday that it has caught ESPN stealing.

The Computer Information Network, which does business as The Sports Network and Sportsnetwork.com, accused the cable television network of "flagrant and brazen" theft of score updates and box scores by using the network's password-protected computer server.

The cable television sports network in a statement called the claims off base, saying they were "without merit and, if necessary, we will establish that in court."

In a federal lawsuit filed in Manhattan, the Computer Information Network said ESPN repeatedly had gained access to the computer server to steal minor league baseball statistics.
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