Apple and A123 Systems Nearing Settlement in Battery Engineer Poaching Lawsuit

Apple and A123 Systems are close to reaching a settlement in an ongoing battery engineer poaching lawsuit between the two companies, according to The Boston Globe. A123 Systems, an advanced battery manufacturer, originally filed suit against Apple in February for poaching key battery engineering employees to join its own automative team, including former chief technology officer Mujeeb Ijaz.

"On Tuesday, a federal judge granted A123 more time to finalize the settlement with Apple," reports The Boston Globe. "In a court filing, the two sides reported that they 'have reached an agreement, signed a term sheet, and are in the process of drafting a final settlement agreement.'"

Apple's much-rumored automotive team reportedly consists of hundreds of employees, including several former Tesla, Ford and GM employees and other talent from smaller firms such as A123 Systems, MIT Motorsports, Ogin, Autoliv, Concept Systems and General Dynamics. The team is believed to be working on an auto-related project, possibly involving an electric and potentially autonomous vehicle.

a123systems
It was reported in late February that Apple is also looking to hire Samsung employees with expertise in battery technology, confirmed by a Samsung official that said some personnel have been hired by the iPhone maker. Apple reportedly has a "top-secret research lab" located near its Cupertino-based headquarters for its automotive project, but likely remains in the early stages of research and development.

Rumors about the so-called "Apple car" have gained momentum since camera-equipped Dodge Caravans leased to Apple started appearing in California earlier this year. The first sightings of the vans were actually in New York last summer, with vehicles spotted in Manhattan and Brooklyn in August and September respectively. The vans have since been spotted in at least six other states.

MacRumors has been tracking the Apple vans, which are likely being used for an unrelated Street View-like mapping project, for the past several months. We have created an interactive Google Maps tracker of the van sightings featuring pins that can be clicked on to view a photo or video of each van. To date, there have been over 30 sightings spanning Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New York and Texas.

Related Roundup: Apple Car

Top Rated Comments

2457282 Avatar
116 months ago
Didn't Apple settle a lawsuite about anticompetitive hiring practice because of an agreement not to hire people away from other companies? And now this?

What is the message here -- if you hire someone you get sued and if you agree not to hire someone you get sued. Seems strange. There must be more to this story -- MR give us a few more details.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
116 months ago
We have created an interactive Google Maps tracker of the van sightings featuring pins that can be clicked on to view a photo or video of each van.
Google Maps of the Apple Street View vans.:confused: Irony?

Please Apple- make a hybrid version (preferably diesel) of the old hippie van. Only with some camper functions like a bed and (awning) maybe a pop up top (straight up not angled).
Solar panels integrated into the roof for heating, electric and cooling function.
MILLIONS of people will buy them! PLEASE!

Not sure if serious. Pretty funny either way. Millions.:rolleyes:

Didn't Apple settle a lawsuit about anticompetitive hiring practice because of an agreement not to hire people away from other companies? And now this?

What is the message here -- if you hire someone you get sued and if you agree not to hire someone you get sued. Seems strange. There must be more to this story -- MR give us a few more details.

That original lawsuit was about specific tech companies colluding to stifle the employment and salary opportunities of their employees. The A123 lawsuit was about hiring employees with specific non-compete contracts.

You can't tie the two issues together because they have nothing to do with each other. Here are your details.

A123: https://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/18/apple-battery-poaching-lawsuit/

Anti-poaching: https://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/14/apple-settles-anti-poaching-lawsuit/
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazard Avatar
116 months ago
So what is the big difference?? The non-compete agreement was between the "poached employee" and A123 - not Apple. It fully appears that the courts want it both ways.

Perhaps Apple's deep pockets are the big difference.
Tortious interference with contract rights can occur where the tortfeasor (in this case Apple) convinces a party (the poached employees) to breach the contract against the plaintiff (A123), or where the tortfeasor disrupts the ability of one party to perform his obligations under the contract, thereby preventing the plaintiff from receiving the performance promised.

But then again, there will always be people on this board that will defend Apple 'til the end of time.

----------

It seems to me that if you signed a non-compete clause, then come work for me, that you broke your contract and would be liable. I don't understand how my hiring you makes me a target for being sued, as I was never a party to your non-compete contract.
Under tort law, if you actively seek to employ an employee than has signed a non-compete agreement, you are committing tortious interference.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
116 months ago
They might sell THOUSANDS just because of the Apple brand. But you seem to assume this type of product would be popular on it's own.

Every time I read Nick's want list description, I can't get past thinking of the Pontiac Aztek Tent Trailer. You're right about thousands. If it sold more than 10K before being discontinued I would be shocked.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Corps Avatar
116 months ago
If you hire an employee away that has signed a non-compete clause, you will get sued. Big difference

So what is the big difference?? The non-compete agreement was between the "poached employee" and A123 - not Apple. It fully appears that the courts want it both ways.

Perhaps Apple's deep pockets are the big difference.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazard Avatar
116 months ago
So, let me get this straight. If I hire employees away from you, I'm poaching and will get sued.

If you hire an employee away that has signed a non-compete clause, you will get sued. Big difference
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
iPhone Home Screen Gradient Blank Spaces 1

Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

Sunday March 24, 2024 1:33 pm PDT by
iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce...
iPad Pro 2024 Landscape Camera Feature

New iPad Pro Again Rumored to Feature Landscape Front-Facing Camera

Monday March 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature a landscape-oriented front-facing camera for the first time, according to the Apple leaker known as "Instant Digital." Instant Digital reiterated the design change earlier today on Weibo with a simple accompanying 2D image. The post reveals that the entire TrueDepth camera array will move to the right side of the device, while the microphone will...
sonoma desktop wwdc

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 With Fix for USB Hub Bug

Monday March 25, 2024 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, a minor update for the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 comes three weeks after macOS Sonoma 14.4. The ‌‌‌‌macOS Sonoma‌‌ 14.4‌.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. There's also a macOS 13.6.6 release for those who...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18 Will Finally Bring This Android Feature to iPhone

Monday March 25, 2024 6:42 am PDT by
iOS 18 will allow iPhone users to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, according to sources familiar with development of the software update. This basic feature has long been available on Android smartphones. While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, our sources said that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18....
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
iphone reasons to upgrade

Apple Outlines 'Reasons to Upgrade' Your iPhone on New Website

Monday March 25, 2024 12:53 pm PDT by
Apple today added a "Why Upgrade" section to its website, which is aimed at encouraging customers with older iPhones to upgrade to a newer model. The website allows customers to compare the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Each comparison shows what new features someone with an older...