2023-09-25 18:33:16
A Streams is accusing Apple of forcing its employees to sign agreements that supposedly prevent them from joining startups, in order to “stifle emerging companies that hire its employees”. To the information is from Bloomberg.
The lawsuit filed at the end of last week marks another chapter in the fight between the chip startup and the Cupertino giant. In May last year, Apple sued Rivos for allegedly stealing its trade secrets, precisely after some former employees joined the startup.
Afraid of any threat of legitimate competition in the market, and hoping to scare and send a message to any employee who dared leave Apple to work elsewhere, Apple has resorted to trying to stifle emerging startups through anti-competitive measures, including restricting illegally mobility of employees.
Rivos claims that the agreement applied to Apple employees as a condition of employment is “broad enough to cover anything done during employment,” regardless of whether it is in fact a trade secret or not.
Mostly, though, Apple’s non-compete agreement — which limits the ability of former employees to obtain positions with direct competitors — would be considered “designed to, and Apple routinely does, reduce employee mobility and competition.”
It’s worth noting that last August, a U.S. district judge dismissed Apple’s trade secret claims against Rivos, but gave the company the opportunity to file a review of its complaint.
Let’s wait for the next chapters of this mess, therefore.
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