iLounge

By Charles Starrett

Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Monday, July 21, 2008
News Category: Apple

Motorola has filed suit against a former executive for allegedly violating a no-compete agreement and threatening to reveal its trade secrets by taking a job with Apple as vice president of global iPhone sales. According to the suit, Michael Fenger accepted “millions of dollars in cash, restricted stock units, and stock options” in exchange for agreeing not to join a competitor for two years following his departure from Motorola. The suit also states that Fenger hired away two high-level Motorola employees who have knowledge of the company’s trade secrets and customer relationships. Fenger, who oversaw mobile devices in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for Motorola, joined Apple less than a month after leaving Motorola, said the lawsuit. Motorola is asking the court to stop Fenger from working for Apple for two years and to bar him from soliciting or hiring Motorola employees or disclosing Motorola’s confidential information, and is also demanding damages and repayment of stock options given to Fenger in exchange for the non-compete agreement.