Mark Papermaster, the ex-IBM executive recruited by Apple to succeed iPod creator Tony Fadell and lead the company’s devices engineering unit, has filed a countersuit against his former employer, Court documents reveal that Papermaster is challenging his non-compete agreement as being unjust since it blocks him from working for any tech company in the world for one year. The surprising move comes on the heels of a bond set earlier this week, which would allow the executive to seek financial compensation from IBM if the court determines that he was unjustly barred from his position at Apple.
Papermaster argues that the problem with his broadly phrased non-compete agreement with IBM prevents him from working any tech company for one year, not just Apple. H e also noted that his previous work on blade servers at IBM had nothing to do with the work he would do at Apple.