Opera claims ex-employee took trade secrets to Mozilla, sues him for $3.4M

Post by mtrimpe » Mon, Apr 29, 2013, 1:44 PM UTC

DannyBee wrote: post #15

mtrimpe wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They seem linked to me. Since cases like this are much harder to pull off under European law unless you can show actual copy-pasted code, this (like the WebKit move) looks like the symptoms of clueless non-technical management taking over and destroying the company by desperately trying to 'save it.'

There is nothing in the article that says anything about anything related to Google Chrome.

    Dear All,

    It is with a heavy heart that I send this message. Next week will be my last 
    at Opera. It has become clear that The Board, Management and I do not share 
    the same values and we do not have the same opinions on how to keep evolving 
    Opera. As a result I have come to an agreement with the Board to end my time 
    at Opera. I feel the Board and Management is more quarterly focused than me. 
    I have always worked to build the company for the future. I believe the 
    foundation we have is very solid to build further upon.
    
    I do believe strongly in Opera as a company, and in all of you working here. 
    Our products actually make a difference for a lot of people in the world, and 
    I wish you all the best of luck moving forward. I will be following the 
    company closely and rooting for you all.

    Yours truly, Jon.

Post by fosap » Mon, Apr 29, 2013, 1:45 PM UTC

jfoster wrote: post #18

DannyBee wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention, Mozilla corporation is not a non-profit :)

Technically true, but they are 100% owned by a non-profit. (Mozilla Foundation owns Mozilla Corporation)

Post by revx » Mon, Apr 29, 2013, 2:02 PM UTC

Post by gcp » Mon, Apr 29, 2013, 2:04 PM UTC

Shorel wrote: post #23

smoyer wrote: post #13

Their lawsuit claims that "Opera Software ASA is an innovative company which has developed software and technology which have proved to be successful internationally". The article talks about features which aren't really IP. Perhaps their trade-secrets relate to coding and construction methods that make their product superior, but these really can't be protected unless they're so esoteric that no one would logically…

Trond Werner Hansen is not a non-profit. In fact, he's not even a corporation. As a side note, 80% of features in Mozilla were first done in Opera. I even remember a Firebird (as it was called back in the day, before version 1.0) fan or zealot badmouthing Opera and its tabs as being a ridiculous and unnecessary feature. After just four months, that feature was copied. It seems that crowd has not changed even a little…

Post by icebraining » Mon, Apr 29, 2013, 2:12 PM UTC

Shorel wrote: post #23

smoyer wrote: post #13

Their lawsuit claims that "Opera Software ASA is an innovative company which has developed software and technology which have proved to be successful internationally". The article talks about features which aren't really IP. Perhaps their trade-secrets relate to coding and construction methods that make their product superior, but these really can't be protected unless they're so esoteric that no one would logically…

Trond Werner Hansen is not a non-profit. In fact, he's not even a corporation. As a side note, 80% of features in Mozilla were first done in Opera. I even remember a Firebird (as it was called back in the day, before version 1.0) fan or zealot badmouthing Opera and its tabs as being a ridiculous and unnecessary feature. After just four months, that feature was copied. It seems that crowd has not changed even a little…