Chip startup Rivos files countersuit against Apple

Chip startup Rivos is countersuing Apple Inc., claiming the tech giant forces employees to sign restrictive agreements that prevent them from working elsewhere and stifle up-and-coming companies that hire its staff.

Chip startup Rivos is countersuing Apple Inc., claiming the tech giant forces employees to sign restrictive agreements that prevent them from working elsewhere and stifle up-and-coming companies that hire its staff.

The countersuit filed Friday by Rivos and six ex-Apple employees in a San Jose federal court escalates an acrimonious trade secret feud that began when Apple last year sued Rivos and former employees who joined the startup. Rivos is pushing back by asking the court to rule that Apple’s “overbroad” non-disclosure and non-solicit agreements are unenforceable.

“Afraid of any threat of legitimate competition in the marketplace, and hoping to frighten and send a message to any employees who might dare to leave Apple to work somewhere else, Apple has resorted to trying to thwart emerging startups through anti-competitive measures, including illegally restricting employee mobility,” Rivos said in its countersuit.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment.