UPDATE: Joby Aviation has just filed a bombshell lawsuit against Archer Aviation and former employee George Kivork, alleging serious corporate espionage. This urgent legal action comes after Kivork, who resigned from Joby just two days prior, is accused of stealing sensitive company files and sharing them with Archer, a direct competitor.
The lawsuit claims Kivork downloaded dozens of confidential documents just before his resignation in July, violating agreements he signed to protect Joby’s proprietary information. Joby alleges that this breach enabled Archer to undermine an exclusive partnership with a major real estate developer, jeopardizing potentially lucrative contracts.
Joby Aviation, based in Santa Cruz, is demanding damages and an immediate halt to the use of allegedly stolen information. “This is corporate espionage, planned and premeditated,” the lawsuit states. Joby, founded in 2009, focuses on innovative electric vertical take-off and landing technology, a field in which both Joby and Archer are competing fiercely.
Kivork’s abrupt departure to Archer in 2025 raised red flags, especially after he signed a proprietary information agreement both at the start of his employment and again just before leaving. Despite these agreements, Joby alleges that Kivork added his personal email to Joby’s Google Drive, allowing him access to new information even after his exit.
The lawsuit highlights a troubling timeline: a few weeks after Kivork’s resignation, Joby claims the developer informed them that Archer had approached with a competing offer, citing details that could only have come from Kivork. This situation forced the developer to terminate their exclusive agreement with Joby, claiming a breach of confidentiality.
In response, Joby conducted a forensic investigation of Kivork’s devices, which reportedly confirmed that he downloaded critical files before leaving. The lawsuit outlines multiple legal claims against both Kivork and Archer, including breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.
A management conference involving Joby, Archer, and Kivork is scheduled for March 2026. Joby has yet to comment publicly, while Archer has not responded to requests for information.
This developing story raises significant questions about corporate ethics and the protection of intellectual property in the rapidly evolving aviation technology sector. As Joby seeks to protect its interests, the implications of this case could reverberate throughout the industry.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds, and share your thoughts on the growing tensions in the electric aviation market.
