Google seeks to stop Microsoft from suing new hire
Search giant asks judge to invalidate a noncompete agreement central to Microsoft's lawsuit against a former executive.
In a filing to the California Superior Court in Santa Clara County, Google charged that the noncompete provision signed by Kai-Fu Lee while he worked for Microsoft was "overreaching and unlawful."
Microsoft sued Lee earlier this week in its home state of Washington, alleging he violated his confidentiality and noncompete agreements by agreeing to take the job with Google.
Google, the No. 1 Web search provider, is a growing competitor to Microsoft. At the same time, Microsoft is attacking Google in the Internet search arena.
Microsoft tapped Lee in 1998 to establish a research and development center in Beijing. He later moved to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., to become the company's vice president responsible for developing speech recognition and other interactive technologies for computers.
"It's about intimidation pure and simple. Their actions in trying to prevent Dr. Lee from joining Google is clearly an illegal restraint of trade," said Nicole Wong, Google's associate general counsel.
The state of California, where Google has its headquarters, has a policy against noncompete contracts that seek to restrain employees from choosing where they want to work in California.