Seagate plans to buy the digital document search firm MetaLincs for an undisclosed sum.

The San Jose-based MetaLincs makes a software suite that helps companies sift through vast amounts of data to find relevant information necessary to respond to a lawsuit or government inquiry. (In the tech world, they call these events "Monday".)

The software sniffs through emails, documents and associated metadata, and presents a visual analysis of the information.

When the acquisition closes, the company will become a part of Seagate's Services Group. MetaLincs CEO, Ramon Nunez, will head that group's new "E-Discovery" business unit.

MetaLincs was founded in 2003 and has about 50 employees.

The acquisition follows Seagate's other software services scheming, such as the the $185m purchase of online backup provider EVault one year ago.

Seagate also said today in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing its technology director has resigned. James Davidson stepped down Monday to "pursue other interests and obligations." ®

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