Michael Simon, staff writer for PCWorld, discusses the Waymo vs. Uber trade secrets trial and the testimony from former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
We dig into Kalanick's statements in the trial where he seemed to distance himself from Anthony Levandowski, the former Waymo employee accused of taking trade secrets with him to Uber. Kalanick says he tried to give Levandowski independence while he ran Otto, the self-driving car company that Uber eventually acquired.
Simon says Kalanick's testimony could seem nefarious if you believe he was involved with the theft of intellectual property. He says the question here is where Levandowski ends and where Waymo begins.
In Wednesday's business headlines, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is due in court to defend the company's takeover of Activision Blizzard and United Airlines is under fire over its recent cancellations with CEO Scott Kirby blaming the FAA for the disruptions. Meanwhile, a judge approved Overstock's purchase of Bed Bath & Beyond assets.
Commercial electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors Corp. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly two months after it warned that it was in danger of failing.