https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/6/15/17467820/fitbit-employees-charged-stolen-jawbone-trade-secrets-jawbone

US federal prosecutors charged six former and current Fitbit employees in an indictment filed yesterday for possession of stolen trade secrets from the company’s former rival Jawbone, as reported by The Associated Press. The indictment states that the six employees were former Jawbone employees who received the trade secrets after leaving the company, violating confidentiality agreements they had signed with Jawbone.

The Fitbit and Jawbone drama began back in 2015, and it seemed to be over before yesterday’s indictment. Former wearables maker Jawbone initially sued Fitbit for “systematically plundering” trade secrets, including over 300,000 confidential files, but a judge ruled in Fitbit’s favor. Although the case continued over patent infringements, the two reached a settlement in December. By then, Jawbone and its parent company, AliphCom, had already gone out of business.