Joby Sues Archer, Claims Stolen Files Gave Rival Edge in Deal

Joby Aviation, a frontrunner in the burgeoning electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft sector, has escalated the competitive landscape by filing a lawsuit against rival Archer Aviation. The legal action, initiated in a California Superior Court in Santa Cruz, alleges that Archer leveraged proprietary information, purportedly stolen by a former Joby employee, to gain an advantage in securing a partnership with a real estate developer.

The complaint centers on George Kivork, Joby’s former U.S. state and local policy lead, who allegedly downloaded sensitive company files and transmitted some data to his personal email account shortly before resigning to join Archer. Joby claims that shortly after Kivork’s departure, Archer approached a Joby partner with a “more lucrative deal,” suggesting the competitor possessed inside knowledge critical to swaying negotiations. The lawsuit points to this incident as evidence of “corporate espionage, planned and premeditated.”

According to Joby, the real estate developer subsequently attempted to terminate its agreement, citing a breach of confidentiality. This detail underscores the potential ramifications of the alleged trade secret theft, extending beyond immediate partnership deals to potentially disrupt Joby’s strategic positioning in key urban markets.

Archer Aviation has vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing the lawsuit as “baseless litigation” designed to impede its progress. Eric Lentell, Archer’s chief legal & strategy officer, stated that “Joby’s case is entirely without merit.” He further contended that the complaint, which involves a non-technical employee in a business development role, fails to identify any specific trade secret or evidence of misappropriation. Archer maintains that it has stringent onboarding procedures to prevent such actions.

A hearing is scheduled for March 20, 2026.

Joby said Kivork refused to return the files when approached by the company after an investigation, according to the suit.

The company also said Archer denied wrongdoing, and would not disclose how it learned about the terms of the agreement or provide results from an internal investigation it allegedly undertook.

Prior to joining Joby, Kivork worked as senior public policy manager at Lyft. He also served as an attorney within the U.S. Commerce Department’s Office of the General Counsel. In that role, Kivork worked on rules to “protect U.S. manufacturers and exporters against unfair trade practices,” according to his LinkedIn.

The lawsuit arrives at a pivotal moment for the eVTOL industry, as companies aggressively pursue Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification to initiate commercial operations. The sector’s potential has also been acknowledged through government initiatives. Joby emphasized that safeguarding its intellectual property is essential for fostering fair competition and propelling the industry’s overall advancement.

This legal battle unfolds against a backdrop of technological milestones and market activity for both companies. Joby recently announced the successful completion of its first test flight for a hybrid aircraft developed in collaboration with defense contractor L3Harris. Meanwhile, Beta Technologies, another player in the electric flight arena backed by Amazon, recently debuted on the New York Stock Exchange.

Investor sentiment reflects the high-stakes nature of this emerging market. Joby shares have surged by over 100% in the past year, while Archer has experienced a more modest gain of approximately 36% during the same period. This performance suggests that investors are closely watching developments in the eVTOL space and are rewarding companies that demonstrate progress toward commercialization.

It’s important to note that Archer has faced similar accusations in the past. In August 2023, the company reached a settlement with Boeing-owned Wisk Aero regarding alleged trade secret theft. As part of the agreement, Archer committed to partnering with Wisk on autonomous technology.

The outcome of Joby’s lawsuit against Archer could have significant implications for the competitive dynamics of the eVTOL industry. A ruling in favor of Joby could set a precedent for stricter enforcement of intellectual property rights and potentially slow down Archer’s development timeline. Conversely, a dismissal of the case could embolden Archer and other companies to take more aggressive approaches to acquiring talent and technology.