Media365
Sensor system architect Chen Shi secretly accessed confidential documents on Apple’s health-sensing technologies for Oppo’s benefit to develop a competing wearable device before departing Apple in June, according to a complaint filed on Thursday at a federal court in San Jose, California.
“Concealing his impending employment with a direct competitor, Dr Shi set up and attended dozens of one-on-one meetings with Apple Watch technical team members to learn about their ongoing research,” according to the complaint.
In addition, “late at night just three days before leaving Apple, Dr Shi downloaded 63 documents from a protected Box folder”, according to the complaint. “He then transferred them to a USB drive one day before his departure.”
Apple has filed numerous suits in recent years accusing ex-employees and rival companies of breaching contracts and stealing valuable intellectual property.
At least three of the iPhone maker’s former engineers who worked on its now abandoned electric vehicle autonomous driving project have been criminally prosecuted for allegedly taking secrets to China. The tech giant has also been locked in a court battle with Irvine, California-based Masimo since 2020 over smartwatch technology.
