Top players in Silicon Valley, including Apple Chief Tim Cook and Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, are expected to face questioning over an alleged agreement not to “poach” staff.
Paul Otellini, head of Intel, is also reported to be set for questioning by US District Court Judge Lucy Koh next month after leaks emerged from prosecution lawyers who first filed the lawsuit in 2011 accusing technology companies of stifling careers and earnings prospects of employees.
In a hearing on Thursday, Koh referred repeatedly to email evidence which included a message from Steve Jobs, Apple Chief at the time, asking Google to stop employing their staff in 2007, reported News24.
Prosecuting lawyers have requested to Koh that they gain the right to represent all staff that may have been affected by the alleged deal. A jury trial is expected to begin in November.
