In a high-stakes legal confrontation, Archer Aviation has vehemently denied allegations from competitor Joby Aviation regarding the alleged theft of trade secrets. The dispute emerged after Joby filed a lawsuit in Santa Cruz, California, accusing Archer of hiring a former Joby employee, George Kivork, who allegedly brought confidential business strategies, partnership terms, and aircraft specifications to Archer. Joby is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a court injunction to prevent Archer from misusing its proprietary information.
Eric Lentell, Archer’s Chief Legal & Strategy Officer, dismissed the claims as baseless, stating that Archer has no deal with the developer in question and that Kivork did not provide any confidential Joby information. Lentell, who is currently attending the Dubai Airshow 2025, accused Joby of resorting to litigation as a tactic to undermine fair competition. However, he declined to comment on whether Archer plans to file a counter-lawsuit.
Both companies are competing to bring their electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, commonly referred to as flying taxis, to market by next year. The legal battle underscores the intense rivalry in the burgeoning advanced aviation sector, where innovation and intellectual property are critical assets.
Joby Aviation has refrained from commenting beyond the details outlined in its legal complaint. Meanwhile, Archer remains steadfast in its mission to pioneer the future of advanced aviation in America, undeterred by the ongoing legal challenges.