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Tesla has reportedly sued a former engineer, saying he illegally transferred classified information about supercomputer technology onto his own computer and handed over a “fake” laptop for inspection to cover up the theft. Tesla is currently developing an in-house supercomputer, dubbed Project Dojo, that will process vast amounts of data, including video from Tesla cars, and use it to create self-driving software.
The former engineer, Alexander Yatskov, was hired in January as a thermal engineer to help design cooling systems for computers that generate a lot of heat, Tesla said in the indictment.
These thermal designs and data are confidential and strictly protected within Tesla,” Tesla said.
Tesla said Yatskov admitted to downloading confidential information from Tesla devices to personal devices after being questioned. The company said he handed over a “fake” computer for inspection by Tesla in an attempt to cover his whereabouts.
Tesla said in its indictment that Yatskov resigned on May 2 and refused to return the materials. When reached by the media by phone, Yatskov said he was unaware of the indictment and declined to comment immediately.
Tesla also accused Yateskov of lying on his resume about his expertise and work experience and also alleged that he violated a nondisclosure agreement that prohibits the disclosure of trade secrets.
Tesla said: “This is a case involving the illegal acquisition of trade secrets by an employee who, during his short time working at Tesla, has shown a record of lying, and then by providing a ‘fake’ device Trying to cover his tracks, thereby lying again.”
Tesla is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages, as well as an order to stop Yatskov from spreading his trade secrets, and for him to return all proprietary data.
Source: Bloomberg
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