RIM sued for poaching Motorola employees
By Simon Sage on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 9:16 AM PST In Motorola, RIM (Research in Motion)
Motorola (NYSE: MOT) recently threw down the legal gauntlet against BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM)-creator Research in Motion for approaching more than 40 of their employees. This put Motorola staff in a tough spot, who obviously couldn’t accept the offers without dishing out trade secrets. As a result, Motorola’s seeking $50,000 in damages as well as bar RIM from approaching their workers or technologies. This isn’t the first time that the two have butted heads, and certainly won’t be the last so long as the Motorola Q keeps aiming for the corporate demographic and BlackBerry Connect keeps luring WinMo users to the dark side. If you’re interested, you can see the latest progress in the case from these documents.
How is this even remotely illegal? Unless Moto has non-compete contracts with its employees RIM should be able to poach whoever they want. It’s Moto’s own fault for having a crappy company that people don’t to work for. If Moto wins this and I was a Moto employee, I would sue Moto for illegal restraint of trade.
Wow Snidely. You ever hear the saying, look before you leap? You prove how crazed and maniacal the American public is these days and how happy they are to sue everyone. READ or research before you comment, or you will continue to look foolish. Both of these companies HAVE a non-solicitation contract already.
I interviewed with them in the summer. Interview went extremely well Boolle. No one soliticed me. Nor my friend that actually received an offer letter and mailed it back. Neither of us EVERY heard from RIM again. Despite repeated inquiries.
I guess “right to work” means that corporations have the right to fire you when they are finished with you, but if you try to leave they’ll find a judge and get an injunction.
I know this case as well as anyone. It’s affected me personally. Ever hear of tortious interference in 3rd party contracts? I had no voice in this. Why am I affected? Do I not have the freedom to work where I choose?
Motorola needs a judge to do it’s dirty work because a LOT of engineers were leaving Motorola.
The people that voluntarily approached RIM are now barred too. Do your research before asking others to do their research. You look stupid.
Now. Ask yourself why Motorola needs a judge to keep their staff from leaving.
BTW. I didn’t know that Motorola owned the contents of my brain. Is that the America of today? Corporate interests supercede the rights of the individual. Or are you one of the Motorola management that many of us are trying like hell to get as far away from as possible?