In a potential resolution to a heated legal battle, Apple and Rivos, a startup based in Mountain View, may have reached a settlement. The dispute, which began in 2022, involved Apple accusing Rivos of poaching its employees and stealing trade secrets related to chip designs.

As reported by Bloomberg and Reuters, both companies have filed documents with the US District Court for the Northern District of California, indicating the signing of an agreement that could potentially settle the case. The agreement grants Apple permission to conduct a forensic examination of Rivos' systems and activities.

When Apple initially sued Rivos, it alleged that the startup orchestrated a "coordinated campaign" to hire employees from Apple's chip design division. Furthermore, Apple claimed that Rivos instructed these newly hired employees to illicitly obtain presentations and other proprietary information regarding unreleased iPhone chip designs. The intellectual property at stake was reportedly valued at billions of dollars.

In response, Rivos countersued Apple last year, accusing the tech giant of impeding the ability of its employees to seek employment elsewhere. Rivos argued that Apple's actions hindered the growth of emerging startups by employing anti-competitive measures.

In April 2023, the court dismissed Apple's trade secret claims against Rivos, giving Apple the opportunity to file a revised complaint. However, Apple had already settled with six of its former employees who had filed a countersuit alongside Rivos. The employees dropped their claims against both Apple and Rivos last month.

Currently, both Apple and Rivos are seeking to postpone their respective cases until March 15th, expecting the completion of their settlement by then. The agreement, if finalized, is expected to bring an end to the contentious legal dispute that has captured industry attention.

Neither Apple nor Rivos have provided specific details regarding the terms of the potential settlement at this time. However, the agreement's provision for a forensic examination of Rivos' systems indicates the seriousness of the allegations and the importance placed on protecting trade secrets within the tech industry.

This possible settlement comes as a relief to both companies, as it offers the opportunity to resolve the dispute amicably and avoid the lengthy and costly legal process. The outcome of the settlement could have broader implications for employee poaching practices and the protection of intellectual property in the tech sector.