# Microsoft sues Google over defection; does it have a case?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-sues-google-over-defection-does-it-have-a-case/313287>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 20, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-sues-google-over-defection-does-it-have-a-case/313287 "2005-07-20T14:23:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-sues-google-over-defection-does-it-have-a-case/313287/21 "2005-07-21T17:16:23Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> While employed at Microsoft and for a period of one year thereafter, I will not (a) accept employment or engage in activities competitive with product, services or projects (including actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development) on which I worked or about which I learned confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets while employed at Microsoft:

As a layman, I expect this to be the crux of the Google defense and the Microsoft complaint.

My guess would be that Google will claim that the projects on which the good doctor would be employed would be of a different nature than those on which he worked at Microsoft and Microsoft will claim that he is bringing knowledge of “actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development.” Given the hinky nature of computer development and the equally hinky nature of tort history, I would make no guess regarding the outcome at this time.

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