Cruises SA正面临一场诉讼，被指控在合作伙伴谈判期间窃取一家初创公司的商业秘密，同时还被指控一名高管对该公司创始人做出了不受欢迎的性骚扰行为。
Cruises SA is fighting a lawsuit over allegations that it stole trade secrets from a startup during partnership negotiations, as well as accusations that a senior executive made unwanted sexual advances toward the firm’s founder.
沉浸式娱乐公司梦境实验室（Dreamology Labs）及其创始人阿莱桑德拉·马代尔尼（Alessandra Maderni）在一份18亿美元的美国诉讼中指控，MSC邮轮未经许可窃取了他们的创意。MSC现已向伦敦法院提起诉讼，试图阻止马代尔尼在佛罗里达州提起的诉讼中的重要部分。
Immersive entertainment firm Dreamology Labs and its founder Alessandra Maderni allege in a $1.8 billion US lawsuit that MSC Cruises stole their ideas without permission. MSC has now turned to a London court in an effort to shut down a significant part of Maderni’s suit in Florida.
该公司请求高等法院法官下令，将涉及机密信息共享和使用的指控在英国审理。它并未寻求阻止执行董事长皮埃尔弗朗切斯科·瓦戈（Pierfrancesco Vago）涉及性不当行为和胁迫的指控。
The company asked a High Court judge to order allegations relating to sharing and use of confidential information to be heard in the UK. It didn’t seek to stop the claims of sexual misconduct and coercion by executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago.
作为全球最大的私人持股邮轮公司，MSC邮轮认为，任何案件都应在伦敦审理，因为双方签署的保密协议受英国法律管辖，且这些诉讼不应在迈阿密提起。
MSC Cruises, the world’s largest closely held cruise company, argues any case should be heard in London because the parties signed confidentiality agreements governed by English law and the claims should not have been brought in Miami.
“我们强烈反对美国法律程序中的指控以及在伦敦高等法院提出的抗辩，”该公司在一封电子邮件声明中表示。“我们将通过适当的法律程序，包括让马代尔尼女士和梦境实验室对其虚假和诽谤性言论负责，来积极捍卫这些诉讼。”该公司表示，性不当行为指控是“虚假且毫无根据的”。它尚未在佛罗里达法院提交答辩状。
“We strongly dispute the allegations of the US legal proceedings and the defenses made before the High Court in London,” the company said in an emailed statement. “We will defend these claims vigorously through the appropriate legal process, including by holding Ms. Maderni and Dreamology Labs responsible for their false and defamatory statements.”The sexual misconduct allegations are “false and without merit,” the company said. It has not yet filed its defense at the Florida court.
据彭博亿万富翁指数，MSC邮轮最终由阿蓬特家族控制，该家族由拥有510亿美元净资产的詹卢吉·阿蓬特（Gianluigi Aponte）领导。MSC邮轮拥有25艘大型邮轮，例如可载客多达6700人的MSC世界美洲号（MSC World America）。它还运营六艘较小的探索号品牌（Explora-branded）船舶，为更富裕的客户群提供其所谓的“超优雅”体验。
MSC Cruises is ultimately controlled by the Aponte family, headed up by Gianluigi Aponte who has a net worth of $51 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. MSC Cruises has a 25-strong fleet of large cruise ships like the MSC World America that can carry up to 6,700 passengers. It also operates six smaller Explora-branded vessels that offer what it calls an “ultra-elegant” experience for wealthier clientele.
“本案的核心是滥用职权的指控，而 MSC 在英国的回应只会让我更加坚定地追究据称发生的商业和性剥削的责任，”Maderni 在发给彭博社的声明中说。
“At the heart of this case are allegations of abuse of power, and MSC’s response in the UK has only made me more determined to pursue accountability for both the commercial and sexual exploitation alleged,” Maderni said in a statement sent to Bloomberg.
根据 Dreamology 在佛罗里达州诉讼中的律师称，Vago 和 Maderni 于 2019 年首次相识。
Vago and Maderni were first introduced in 2019, according to lawyers for Dreamology in the Florida suit.
随佛罗里达州诉状附件的一封电子邮件显示，Dreamology Labs 提供“感官的强烈愉悦……无法与邮轮上常见的时长一小时的综艺表演相提并论”。
Dreamology Labs offered “an intense delight for the senses ... something that cannot be compared to the hour-long variety shows typically found on cruise ships,” an email attached to the Florida claim shows.
根据诉讼，Dreamology 称其“由美人鱼、神话海洋生物和拟人化海洋角色组成的海洋节日宇宙”在概念验证阶段就创造了数百万美元的收入。
Dreamology says its “ocean festival universe populated by mermaids, mythical sea creatures and anthropomorphic marine characters” generated millions of dollars in revenue at a proof-of-concept stage, according to the lawsuit.
根据美国诉状，Vago 后来直接联系 Maderni 表达兴趣。双方安排了一次会面，并就潜在合作展开讨论。双方签署了保密协议，并开始分享专有概念。
Vago later contacted Maderni directly to express his interest, according to the US complaint. A meeting was set up and discussions about a potential partnership ensued. Both sides signed a nondisclosure agreement and started sharing proprietary concepts.
Maderni 的律师在为 11 月 3 日伦敦法庭听证会准备的文件中称：“一种强迫性的互动模式形成了，即 Vago 先生将性骚扰与商业合作的承诺挂钩。”
“A coercive dynamic developed in which Mr. Vago would connect sexual advances with promises of business dealings,” Maderni’s lawyers said in submissions prepared for a London court hearing on Nov. 3.
根据佛罗里达州诉状，2022 年初，在讨论“数百万美元的合作项目”期间，Vago 邀请 Maderni 到他在迈阿密的酒店房间，并出乎意料地吻了她的脸颊。
In early 2022, during discussions about “multi-million dollar collaborations,” Vago invited Maderni to his hotel room in Miami and he unexpectedly kissed her on the cheek, her lawyers allege in the Florida suit.
美国诉状中，律师称第二天，他再次邀请她到房间，并发起了一次性行为，并补充称，当她表示反对时，他向她保证会给予支持，但随后取消了会面，实际上撤回了一项意向交易。
The following day he invited her to his room again and initiated a sexual encounter, the lawyers said in the US case, adding that when she objected he assured her of his support but later canceled meetings and effectively withdrew a prospective deal.
Dreamology 称，其与 MSC Cruises 分享的概念，包括超大型鱼类雕塑、缠绕海怪触手的船体结构以及面向年轻乘客的游戏，事后均被复制到了船上的设计和活动中。
Dreamology says concepts it shared with MSC Cruises, including oversized fish sculptures, ship structures wrapped in sea monster tentacles and games for younger passengers were all copied afterward in onboard designs and activities.
Dreamology 称，由于 MSC 和 Vago 的行为，公司不仅遭受了资金损失，还错失了其他拓展业务、筹集资金和建立合作伙伴关系的机会。
Because of MSC and Vago’s conduct, Dreamology says it not only lost money but missed other opportunities to grow the business, raise funds and strike partnerships.