Indiana

Following up on Trade Secret News: IBM, Apple and a Papermaster

While it is unlikely that any ruling body would ultimately find in favor of IBM (such a precedent would seriously hamper healthy executive level staff flow in Silicon Valley), that doesn?t mean the two companies could become entangled in a protracted and expensive legal battle. So why is IBM is even threatening? They want a parting gift for the loss of Papermaster, most likely information on what he?ll be working on at Apple, although they might even try to force a limited IP share on the grounds that their proprietary knowledge is being used in the ex-VP?s work.

It?s a shrewd move, but Apple can always decide to just drop Papermaster and look elsewhere if IBM pushes too hard. Although they?re hard-pressed for time now that it?s official that engineer Tony Fadell will be stepping down next month as SVP of the iPod division.

Full post as published by Indiana Civil & Business Lawyer on November 13, 2008 (boomark / email).