SAP Backs Oracle in Defining Industry

SAP, the world’s biggest maker of business management software, will write to the Justice Department to say it agrees with Oracle Corp. that the government’s definition of the industry is too narrow.

Redwood City, Calif.-based Oracle, which is preparing to fight the Justice Department over the company’s $9.4-billion bid for PeopleSoft Inc., has said the government is wrong in saying only Oracle, PeopleSoft and SAP sell complex accounting software. SAP, based in Germany, agrees with Oracle in this respect, a spokesman said.