Motorola Sues Apple Exec For iPhone's Success

Edward Kirk · July 19th, 2008, 06:09 PM

Phone maker Motorola is suing former company executive Michael Fenger, who jumped ship to join Apple as their VP of global iPhone sales, for allegedly giving Apple their corporate secrets in order to help the success of the iPhone. The company is claiming that Fenger has given away information about margins, operating strategies, marketing information, and customer initiatives to the iPhone maker, among other things

While at Motorola, Fenger was the man who oversaw Motorola's mobile business as VP in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Now they're saying that he has used the information he acquired during his time in the company to help further the success of the iPhone.

Now they are seeking damages against him, partly because he has breached a written contract he had with Motorola in which he agreed not to be employed by a competing company for at least two years after March 31st. In addition, they are hoping to recover over $1 million in stock-option grants.

[via Bloomberg]

xxx · July 19th, 2008, 09:44 PM #2

Good Luck!

katmail · July 20th, 2008, 08:35 AM #3

This must mean every time you changes jobs you must forget everything you know....and go to your new job a clean slate...really.

Bernie · **Michael Fenger is wrong** - July 20th, 2008, 09:27 AM #4

He signed on the dotted line that he would not work for the competition for at least two years. Apple is clearly the competition. Michael Fenger will pay dearly for his greed.

Apple is free and clear.

July 21st, 2008, 12:52 PM #5

Because Motorola can't figure out the people culture equation and their continued ineptness in reading the market dynamics, they play the blame card. They can't make money selling phones, so why not exploit the lawsuit market.

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Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,084 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Motorola Sues Apple Exec For iPhone's Success - July 19th, 2008, 06:09 PM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> Phone maker Motorola is suing former company executive Michael Fenger, who jumped ship to join Apple as their VP of global iPhone sales, for allegedly giving Apple their corporate secrets in order to help the success of the iPhone. The company is claiming that Fenger has given away information about margins, operating strategies, marketing information, and customer initiatives to the iPhone maker, among other things While at Motorola, Fenger was the man who oversaw Motorola's mobile business as VP in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Now they're saying that he has used the information he acquired during his time in the company to help further the success of the iPhone. Now they are seeking damages against him, partly because he has breached a written contract he had with Motorola in which he agreed not to be employed by a competing company for at least two years after March 31st. In addition, they are hoping to recover over $1 million in stock-option grants. [via Bloomberg] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

xxx Rocks the Board Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North East Posts: 352 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	July 19th, 2008, 09:44 PM #2
	Good Luck!

katmail iPA Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rockland Posts: 64 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	July 20th, 2008, 08:35 AM #3
	This must mean every time you changes jobs you must forget everything you know....and go to your new job a clean slate...really.

Bernie Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Valley in Virginia Posts: 525 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Michael Fenger is wrong - July 20th, 2008, 09:27 AM #4
	He signed on the dotted line that he would not work for the competition for at least two years. Apple is clearly the competition. Michael Fenger will pay dearly for his greed. Apple is free and clear. __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: MA712LL w Apple Headset & Vaja case iPhone Version: 2.0 (5G77) Hacks: Been there, done that. Computer & OS: 2 x 2.8 GHZ Quad-Core w 8G &10.5.7 There are cars you drive and cars you work on.

Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	July 21st, 2008, 12:52 PM #5
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	Because Motorola can't figure out the people culture equation and their continued ineptness in reading the market dynamics, they play the blame card. They can't make money selling phones, so why not exploit the lawsuit market.