November 13th, 2008
Is 'racetrack memory' at heart of IBM-Apple-Papermaster dispute?
Could IBM’s objections to Mark Papermaster’s plans to join Apple be linked to so-called racetrack memory, a technology t
hat would store a lot more content on an iPod?
That leap was touted by Electronista, which makes its case based on an April story in the Times Online. And the Times Online article is based on an article in the Science journal (subscription required). IBM also issued a statement on racetrack memory (gallery and explainer). The rub: Papermaster didn’t author the paper that appeared in Science (see the publication’s online supporting material). He didn’t get a mention, but may have known about the project.
Nothing like following the unlinked bouncing citations eh?
Electronista writes:
Recent filings in the Apple-IBM-Papermaster case reveal that IBM is potentially raising a flag due to an upcoming technology that the company fears could be compromised by Mark Papermaster’s employ at Apple.
The argument makes a lot of sense, but the key word is “potentially.” IBM’s court documents are inconclusive. IBM’s complaint (PDF) and response (PDF) to Papermaster’s reply (PDF) indicate that Big Blue is mostly worried about Papermaster’s knowledge of processors. There is this one footnote, however (click to enlarge).
I’m not sure that qualifies as a smoking gun–especially since IBM only footnoted the racetrack memory point. How this racetrack memory argument plays out in court remains to be seen. IBM would have to show that Papermaster had intimate knowledge of the racetrack memory research.
We’ll know soon enough. Papermaster and IBM are in court Nov. 18.
Also see: The IBM-Apple-Papermaster triangle: How far does a non-compete go?
Apple’s top iPod gun to depart; Papermaster in; Jobs succession gets murkier
IBM sues brainiac looking to leap to Apple; Download the docs
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
For daily updates, follow Larry on Twitter.
Subscribe to Between the Lines via Email alerts or RSS.
