Joby Aviation ordered to pay $116.9m over trade secrets, jury finds

A federal jury in Florida found that Joby Aviation misappropriated trade secrets belonging to Aerosonic, an aviation equipment supplier, and breached a mutual nondisclosure agreement between the two companies. The 2 October verdict carries $116.9 million in damages.

The award has three parts: $68.6 million for the breach of the confidentiality agreement, $29.9 million in compensatory damages on the trade-secret claim, and $18.3 million in exemplary damages.

The dispute grew out of work the two firms did together on air-data probes for Joby's electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, which the company is developing for planned passenger air-taxi service. Air-data probes are external sensors that measure air pressure, temperature, airflow and airspeed.

Aerosonic, based in Florida, says Joby first approached it in 2016 about possibly supplying air-data equipment for the eVTOL programme. By 2019 the relationship had advanced, and the supplier began sending engineering drawings and proprietary information about its air-data equipment.

Joby says it did nothing wrong and disputes the jury's conclusions. The company said it believes the verdict is not supported by the evidence and is inconsistent with the law, adding that it developed its air-data system independently over years of its own engineering and manufacturing work. It said it takes the protection of intellectual property seriously, both its own and that of others.

According to Joby, the outcome can still be challenged after trial. The company said it has asked the court to set the verdict aside and intends to pursue all available post-trial and appellate options.