From the AP comes news of a lawsuit filed by Microsoft in a Washington state court against Google and Kai-Fu Lee, the former corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Interactive Services Division who quit the company to join Google.
This news come hot on the heels of a recent Google announcement that the firm will be opening a research center in China, with Lee coming on board as president of Chinese operations.
Microsoft says:
“Accepting such a position with a direct Microsoft competitor like Google violates the narrow non-competition promise Lee made when he was hired as an executive. Google is fully aware of Lee’s promises to Microsoft, but has chosen to ignore them, and has encouraged Lee to violate them.”
Google says:
“We have reviewed Microsoft’s claims and they are completely without merit. Google is focused on building the best place in the world for great innovators to work. We’re thrilled to have Dr. Lee on board at Google. We will defend vigorously against these meritless claims and will fully support Dr. Lee.”
More in the official Microsoft press release as well as an interesting article on what your non-compete really means courtesy the CareerJournal from the WSJ.
