US: Non-poaching challenge hits Disney, DreamWorks

As major technology companies continue to fight to settle a lawsuit accusing the firms of forming non-poaching agreements, similar allegations have now been filed against Walt Disney, DreamWorks Animation and other film industry conglomerates.

Reports say the latest suit may signal a wave of incoming litigation challenging non-poaching agreements, in which competing companies agree not to hire each others’ employees so as to artificially keep wages low. The class action against Disney, DreamWorks and others accuses the companies of colluding to not hire each other’s software engineers, digital artists and animators, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Google, Apple, Intel and Adobe are fighting to have a proposed $324.5 million settlement offer approved to end litigation filed against them for non-poaching claims. The settlement offer was rejected by a judge several weeks ago after it was slammed as insufficient.

That Silicon Valley lawsuit has earned significant attention as reports say case documents include potentially damning evidence in the form of emails sent by Apple founder Steve Jobs and his role in the alleged collusion.

Full content: Bloomberg

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