In a bold legal move, Google (GOOGL.O) has filed a lawsuit against Harshit Roy, a former engineer, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, accusing him of stealing confidential trade secrets related to the company’s Pixel chip designs and publicly sharing them online. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, claims that Roy not only disclosed sensitive information but also made disturbing social media posts targeting Google and its leadership, including threats like “I need to take unethical means to get what I am entitled to” and “remember that empires fall and so will you.”
According to the lawsuit, Google hired Roy in 2020 to work on its Pixel smartphone chips. However, after resigning in February 2024, Roy relocated from Bangalore, India to the United States to pursue a doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin. In August, Roy began posting confidential Google documents on his X account, which included internal specifications for the company’s Pixel processing chips. Roy’s posts also contained provocative and defiant remarks, such as “don’t expect me to adhere to any confidentiality agreement.”
Despite Google’s requests for the removal of the content, Roy allegedly continued to post the leaked documents on X and LinkedIn, and even tagged competitors Apple and Qualcomm, presumably to amplify the impact of his actions. Google has cited multiple instances where the leaked information was picked up by media outlets, further harming the company’s intellectual property security.
A Google spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, emphasized that the company will not tolerate any breach of trust involving confidential information. “After an investigation, we found that this former employee stole numerous documents, and we’re pursuing legal action against them for the repeated and unauthorized disclosure of confidential company information,” Castaneda said.
In its complaint, Google is seeking monetary damages, as well as court orders preventing Roy from using or sharing the stolen information. The lawsuit also calls for a legal injunction to ensure Roy ceases any further unauthorized disclosures.
This case underscores the growing concern among tech companies over the protection of their proprietary information. With the high value placed on innovative designs and intellectual property, the theft or misappropriation of trade secrets can result in significant financial and reputational damage. Google’s swift legal response is a testament to the company’s commitment to safeguarding its technological assets and ensuring accountability for any breaches.
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