IBM acts to stop server expert joining Apple

Posted on 31 Oct 2008 at 09:56

IBM is suing former employee Mark Papermaster in an attempt to delay his appointment at Apple.

The chip design expert was expected to join Apple as a senior executive, but IBM insists he has to stick to an agreement not to join a competitor for at least a year.

In the lawsuit filed in New York, IBM describes Papermaster as “one of IBM’s top executives who is in possession of significant and highly-confidential IBM trade secrets and know-how, as well as sensitive information regarding business strategy and long-term opportunities”.

Papermaster worked in IBM’s Blade server division and is the author of several papers on chip development, leading to speculation that Apple wants him to bolster its Xserve efforts.

But IBM said that he had signed a noncompete agreement that would prevent him from accepting a job with a competitor until one year after leaving the company.

Apple declined to comment but IBM said it was prepared to “vigorously pursue” legal action to ensure that Papermaster sticks to the noncompete terms.

Papermaster is the second prospective Apple employee this year to face legal action from a former employer. Motorola is attempting to stop Michael Fenger from working in Apple’s iPhone division until 2010 an to prevent him from hiring Motorola employees or disclosing confidential information.

[photo: blades by gothopotam]

Author: Simon Aughton

Get more reviews, tutorials and in-depth advice, every month with Computer Shopper.
Click here to try 3 issues for £1

< Previous News : Networking Next >

Be the first to comment on this article

You need to Login or Register to comment.