The co creator of Android, Andy Rubin’s latest startup Essential Products is being sued by the wireless technology company Keyssa Inc., over allegedly stealing their connector technology.
Keyssa Inc., which is backed by the iPod creator and Nest founder Tony Fadell, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Essential for stealing trade secrets and for breaching their nondisclosure agreement. In the lawsuit, Keyssa alleges Essential engaged in technology and design discussions with the company for 10 months but ultimately terminated the relationship. The Essential Phone, which released in September this year, was one of the first devices on the market that featured a wireless connector.
Keyssa claims all the information shared with Essential was protected under a nondisclosure agreement including information regarding the proprietary technology which enables every facet of Keyssa’s wireless connectivity. The company also deployed a team 20 of its top engineers and scientists “to educate Essential on its proprietary tech.” They also reportedly sent “many thousands of confidential emails, hundreds of confidential technical documents and dozens of confidential presentations,” to Essential.
The technology company claims Essential’s final phone incorporates many of their techniques although they use a different chip. Keyssa specifically argues the Essential phone incorporates its techniques such as their antenna designs. Speaking about the lawsuit, the company released an official statement stating, “Keyssa has not been compensated for Essential’s use of this guidance and know how. We are pursuing this action because our attempts to resolve this matter through discussions with Essential have not been successful.”
Essential uses modular connector pins on the back of the phone which allow the company to build accessories and smart home devices, such as the 360 degree camera. If Keyssa wins this lawsuit, then Essential will lose one of their most defining factors. Essential said they could not comment on the issue as they haven’t been officially served with the lawsuit. However, Andy Rubin, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Essential, has not been named in the lawsuit.