Apple Faces Lawsuit Over EV Battery Expert Poaching

Apple's electric car project may only have been grist for the rumor-mill for a week, but it's already landed the firm in legal hot water over alleged expert-poaching. Speculation about the so-called "Project Titan" underway at a secret facility near Apple's Cupertino headquarters has so-far centered on intermingling rumors of EV powertrains and self-driving technology. However, according to battery maker A123 Systems, some of the skills that are helping those projects came as a result of a targeted campaign by Apple to grab the firm's staff. Now, it's decided to take it to the courts.

According to a suit filed in Massachusetts state court this month, A123 Systems LLC alleges that five former employees either got jobs with Apple or attempted to. While changing employers isn't unusual, A123 claims the five violated non-disclosure agreements (NDA) they had around battery technology.

The lawsuit was moved this week to the Boston federal court.

A123's goal is to have court orders put in place that prevent former staff from revealing any company information – and blocking Apple from attempting to encourage such disclosure. It's also looking for the return of any confidential documents that may have been taken as the former employees moved jobs.

GM worked with A123 on the battery systems for its electric vehicles, though the company also provided power packs for cars such as Fisker's Karma. The firm ran into trouble, however, when Fisker was forced to do a battery recall.

A123's attempts to secure extra funding failed, and the company went into bankruptcy.

"Apple is currently developing a large-scale battery division," the lawsuit alleges, "to compete in the very same field as A123." Apple's attempts to lure away team members began in mid-2014, it's suggested.

Apple is yet to comment on the lawsuit. Earlier this month it was suggested the company had brought across many engineers, designers, and other experts from other firms, as it staffed the car project with "hundreds" of employees.

VIA Bloomberg