Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by pastor_elm 2339 days ago
>allowing the case to proceed but barring Apple from seeking punitive damages.

> Apple is not suing Nuvia itself or any of Williams’ co-founders and it did not allege any intellectual property or trade secret theft.

What exactly would Apple get here then if ruled in their favor? Petty revenge? A message they can send to current employees? Comp for hours he spent on the phone?
3 comments
summerlight 2339 days ago
> A message they can send to current employees?

This probably is the main reason. Apple has been constantly losing its best talents on chip design. I believe they're very concerned about his leaving which may accelerate this trend.

link
henryfjordan 2339 days ago
They'd probably be claiming ownership of the new company based on the fact that they own their employee's work product.

In reality they will get far enough into the case to determine whether or not they (likely) own any of the business and then settle for a tidy sum or some stock or something like that. They're probably also interested in locking up an IP the company owns (which is probably more important than the money).

Sending a message is a nice perk.

link
LatteLazy 2339 days ago
His share of the new company I thought? Plus, like you say, a warning to existing employees.
link
onion2k 2339 days ago
His share of the new company is likely to be worthless if his input would have made the company a success (assuming he wouldn't carry on working on it, and it would be really weird if he did.)

So this is really only about sending a message to other employees.

link
LatteLazy 2338 days ago
Unless his input has already been (mostly) completed? If his contribution was organising, introducing people and getting things setup and running then he can leave and the company will roll along just fine?
link