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Apple suing former A-series chip lead; each accuses the other of illegal acts

Apple is suing former A-series chip lead Gerard Williams, accusing him of breaking his employment contract and ‘exploiting’ Apple technology.

Williams, in turn, says that Apple’s non-compete clause is unenforceable under California law and that the iPhone maker illegally monitored his text messages…

Background

Williams is said to have led the development of the A-Series chips which power iPhones and iPads, responsible for everything from the A7 chip first used in the iPhone 5S through to the A12X used in the current iPad Pro lineup.

In particular, the engineer has worked on packing more tech into the A-series chips to reduce the physical size of components and improve battery life. He is credited as an inventor on at least 60 Apple patents.

Williams left Apple back in March, though did not at the time reveal his plans. It was only last month that we learned he was working with two other former Apple execs to create a new chip company, Nuvia – and it is this which has led to the lawsuit.

Apple suing its former A-series chip lead

The Register reports Apple accusing Williams of exploiting Apple tech and poaching other Apple employees.

Apple’s lawsuit alleged Williams hid the fact he was preparing to leave Apple to start his own business while still working at Apple, and drew on his work in steering iPhone processor design to create his new company. Crucially, Tim Cook & Co’s lawyers claimed he tried to lure away staff from his former employer. All of this was, allegedly, in breach of his contract […]

“Unfortunately, rather than exploiting the technology he was working on for Apple, Williams secretly considered how he could take an opportunity to exploit that technology from Apple,” the filing stated.

Indeed, says Apple, Nuvia was created with the intention of forcing the iPhone maker to effectively buy back its own tech.

The iGiant also reckoned Williams had formed the startup in hope of being bought by Apple to produce future systems for its data centers […]

“Williams boasted about starting a new company with technology that he was working on at Apple, that he believed Apple ‘needed’ and that he believed Apple would have no choice but to purchase.”

Apple now seeks injunctions and damages against Williams for breach of contract and breach of duty of loyalty.

Williams hits back at Apple

Williams is fighting the lawsuit, arguing that the alleged ‘breach of contract’ claim is unenforceable and that Apple illegally monitored his text messages.

The paperwork states Apple’s employment contract provisions in this case are not enforceable under California law: they argue the language amounts to a non-compete clause, which is, generally speaking, a no-no in the Golden State. Thus, they say, Williams was allowed to plan and recruit for his new venture while at Apple.

They also allege that Apple’s evidence in its complaint, notably text messages he exchanged with another Apple engineer and conversations with his eventual Nuvia co-founders, were collected illegally by the highly paranoid iPhone maker.

A hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2020.

Apple has at least partially filled the hole left by Williams by hiring former ARM chip designer Mike Filippo.

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Cook photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP, Williams photo: Nuvia


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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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