Motorola sues Apple boss over trade secrets

Motorola’s going head to head with Apple over the iPhone, but not in the way you might think: the Big M is accusing one of Apple’s executives of stealing trade secrets, claiming he held knowledge that helped Apple’s iPhone marketing.

The row centres around Michael Fenger, who left his position as vice president of Motorola’s mobile device business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, in March.

He is now employed as Apple’s vice president for global iPhone sales.

According to Motorola, which has filed a complaint to a state court in Chicago: “He was privy to the pricing, margins, customer initiatives, allocation of resources, product development, multiyear product, business and talent planning and strategies being used by Motorola.”

The company also says Fenger has violated a clause in his contract which prevented him working for a rival firm for two years.

Interestingly, Motorola isn’t going after Apple itself. The company is not named as a defendant in its complaint to the authorities, and instead wants a court order banning Fenger from working for Apple.

Motorola’s also claiming $1 million in damages. Mr Fenger had better have deep pockets!

TBC | £TBC | Apple, Motorola (via Bloomberg)

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