A group of companies claiming that they first came up with the idea of a world golf league has filed a lawsuit against LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and others seeking up to $630 million in damages, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
The lawsuit was filed by lawyers representing the World Golf Group and Premier Golf League. They accused LIV Golf, the PIF, Golf Saudi and others of breach of confidence and unlawful means conspiracy. More specifically, two former World Golf Group founders, Richard Marsh and Jed Moore, are accused of breaching fiduciary duty for helping the Saudis launch LIV Golf in the first place.
"The Claimants conceived the idea for a new golf league called the Premier Golf League," the complaint says. "Over the course of several years, the Claimants refined the format of this league and produced business plans, contracts, financial models and other intellectual property belonging to the Claimants, which provided the blueprint for its launch and success.
"The Defendants conspired together to use the Claimants' confidential information without the permission of the Claimants to launch the LIV Golf League."
The lawsuit was filed in Commercial Court in London on April 16. They are seeking between $210 and $630 million in damages.