UPDATE: Joby Aviation has filed an urgent lawsuit against competitor Archer Aviation and former employee George Kivork, accusing them of corporate espionage. The lawsuit, filed in Santa Cruz, claims Kivork downloaded dozens of confidential files just two days before resigning to join Archer. This shocking allegation raises serious concerns about the integrity of the electric aircraft industry.
Joby alleges that Kivork, who played a critical role as their U.S. state and local policy lead for over four years, shared sensitive information with Archer. The company claims that this breach allowed Archer to undermine an exclusive partnership Joby had with a real estate developer, jeopardizing their business interests significantly.
The lawsuit details that Kivork, days before his resignation in July 2025, downloaded sensitive business strategies and technical data about Joby aircraft. Joby is demanding a court ruling to prevent Archer from utilizing this allegedly stolen information and is seeking damages for the harm caused.
“This is corporate espionage, planned and premeditated,” states Joby’s complaint, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations. Joby’s innovative work on electric vertical take-off and landing technology has garnered attention, with collaborations involving NASA and the U.S. Air Force.
The legal battle does not just involve Joby and Archer; it also underscores Kivork’s questionable actions. Despite signing agreements to protect Joby’s proprietary information, Kivork allegedly added his personal email as an “owner” of Joby files, enabling access to ongoing developments even after his departure.
Joby’s complaint asserts that Archer has already exploited the stolen information to craft a competitive offer to the real estate developer, which included highly confidential terms from Joby’s agreement. This breach of trust led to the developer terminating their relationship with Joby, claiming confidentiality was compromised.
The implications of this lawsuit extend beyond Joby as it could significantly impact the future of electric aviation. Joby argues that without access to the proprietary files, Archer would have faced months of work to create a competitive offer.
Should the court find in favor of Joby, this case could set a precedent for how proprietary information is handled within the aerospace industry, particularly among emerging technology firms. Joby has also accused Kivork of breach of contract, fiduciary duty, and violations under California’s computer data access law.
A case management conference is scheduled for March 2026, where both parties will present their cases before a judge. Joby seeks not only to prevent further misuse of its data but also to recover damages for the alleged harm done.
As this situation unfolds, it raises critical questions about corporate ethics and the lengths to which companies might go to protect their innovations. Readers are urged to stay tuned for further developments as this high-stakes legal battle continues to evolve.
In the meantime, both Joby and Archer have remained tight-lipped, reflecting the sensitive nature of the allegations. The aerospace community watches closely, as the outcome of this lawsuit could reshape the competitive landscape of the electric aviation sector.
