The US Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against a former high‑ranking Google engineer, accusing him of stealing confidential technology from the company's self‑driving car unit before joining rival Uber.
He could face decades in prison if convicted.
The ABC reports that the prosecution sets in motion one of Silicon Valley's highest profile trade secrets theft cases, at a time when engineers around the world are racing to develop technology for self‑driving cars.
Industry experts have said it presents a $US1 trillion market opportunity in coming decades.
39-year-old Anthony Levan-dowski has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His lawyers said he stole nothing, and that they looked forward to proving his innocence at trial.
The case is part of a long‑running dispute between Google and Uber over allegations of trade secrets theft, and it involves technology Uber sees as vital to its future.
The Department of Justice said Levandowski, who worked for Google parent company Alphabet Inc's Waymo unit, downloaded thousands of files as he was leaving the company, walking out the door with dozens of "trade secrets".
[Source:abc.net.au]
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