US court trims Joby's trade-secret claims against Archer Aviation

Wisk: Wisk is a Boeing-owned developer of electric air-taxi aircraft. It previously brought trade-secret claims against Archer Aviation that were settled in 2023. The company operates in the same emerging eVTOL sector as Joby and Archer. Joby Aero: Joby Aero is an air-taxi developer focused on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban mobility. In this case, it is the plaintiff in ongoing trade-secret litigation against rival Archer Aviation in California federal court. The company alleges that former employee George Kivork improperly transferred confidential business and technical information after joining Archer. George Kivork: George Kivork previously led state and local policy efforts at Joby Aero before joining Archer Aviation. The lawsuit alleges he transferred dozens of confidential Joby files to a personal email account and altered access permissions on additional documents prior to his departure. Joby claims the information included business strategies, partnership terms, and aircraft specifications. Archer Aviation: Archer Aviation develops electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft aimed at commercial air-taxi services. It is the defendant in the current litigation, where a federal court recently trimmed Joby Aero's claims while also dismissing Archer's counterclaims. Archer has been involved in separate intellectual-property matters with other air-taxi developers. Vertical Aerospace: Vertical Aerospace is an air-taxi manufacturer developing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. Archer Aviation filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against the company earlier in 2026 as part of broader intellectual-property activity in the sector. Legal Ruling: The US District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed portions of Joby Aero's trade-secret and contract claims against Archer Aviation, along with Archer's counterclaims, in a September 29 ruling. Market Context: Air-taxi makers are racing to commercialize electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in a sector backed by major automakers, airlines, and investors. Industry Disputes: The emerging eVTOL market has generated multiple trade-secret and patent disputes among competing developers.