Intel Sues Ex-Engineer For Trying To Steal 3D XPoint Technology On His Way To Micron

Intel has filed a lawsuit last week against one of their former hardware engineers, alleging they tried to steal confidential chip blueprints to potentially pass on to Micron. 'The lawsuit is the latest twist in the tale of Intel and Micron's difficult partnership over 3D XPoint memory,' reports The Register. From the report: The legal complaint, aimed at former employee Doyle Rivers, alleges that having 'secretly' accepted a position at Chipzilla's former bedfellow, Micron, Rivers had a go at taking confidential trade and personnel data with him as he left. Intel alleged that a few days before leaving, 'Rivers tried to access and copy a 'top secret' designated Intel file that Intel's electronic security system blocked from being copied.'

Chipzilla said the document was related to what it was at pains to say is its 'independent' work to productize the 3D XPoint tech into its Optane product line. In other words, blueprints secret to Intel. No one outside Intel, 'including Micron' had been privy to such data, the complaint alleged. Intel's security system stopped the file from escaping, but according to the complaint, that did not stop Rivers from allegedly hoovering up a selection of personnel files into a USB device plugged into his computer. The chipmaker also claimed that Rivers 'aggressively' recruited his former colleagues to join him on his grand adventure to pastures new. Intel demanded that Rivers return the USB drive, but he apparently 'never responded' to them. Instead, 'he handed the USB device over to his new employer.' It was later discovered by a forensic investigator that it had been wiped. Intel is now demanding 'a neutral forensic investigator' be allowed to take a look at Rivers' PC to see what was on there, and when exactly the USB stick was erased. There's a deadline of November 16 for Rivers to agree to this probing.

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