[NewsPoster]

Apple has been accused of poaching employees from rival technology companies for the second time in a week, this time from Samsung. Unnamed officials at the electronics producer apparently claim Apple has headhunted engineers working in signal processing and visual processing management, bolstering its staff with experts in chip production and battery technology, potentially for its rumored electric car project.

Speaking to the Korea Times, one official said "Some of our personnel have been hired by Apple. They now work at Apple's headquarters in San Jose, California." Alongside offers of highly-competitive benefits and large paychecks, another official claims the former Samsung employees "are given greater independence to proceed with their tasks. Apple prefers to use Samsung's chip experts because they are very diligent, mission-oriented, and are prepared to acquire new knowledge."

Though the officials declined to state how many employees have been lost to Apple, it was noted that the employees targeted have "no significant language barriers" that can get in the way of working with the company. Despite the shifts in staff, the same official appears to suggest it is positive to all involved. "Top human resources firms have been approaching Samsung's battery experts, individually, and I think such human exchange moves are a win-win for both."

While Apple's need for staff versed in chip design and production is obvious, the battery side is less so. Current speculation has Apple creating a mass-market electric car, a potential product that would require battery technology experts. Samsung SDI, a major battery producer, provides units to BMW and other car manufacturers to use in their vehicles, making Apple's interest more apparent.

A lawsuit filed last week against Apple by vehicle-oriented technology company A123 Systems claims Apple has been poaching employees for an unannounced battery division. The complaint claims five employees from A123's Venture Technologies Division were drawn over to Apple, potentially violating anti-compete agreements, and leaving A123 without key employees for its advanced "moonshot" projects.

Apple has also recruited employees from battery firm SiNode Systems, as well as electric car maker Tesla, though in the latter's case, it has also been drawing employees away from Apple.

[iphonerulez]

To poach - to take without one's permission and use one's ideas.

I don't quite understand why Apple is considered poaching when it is simply hiring skilled personnel in a certain field. Apple isn't taking anything without permission. Whomever gets hired by Apple is certainly giving them permission. I didn't think employee headhunting was illegal. The term poaching would seem to refer to Apple doing something sneakily or underhanded. I doubt it's being done that way at all. It's not unusual for employess working with one firm to go to companies which offer more money or better benefits for their skills. I simply wonder why these authors constantly use the term poaching when using the term of hiring would be more appropriate.

[jfgilbert]

So Apple is getting sued for not hiring from Google because they must have had a no-poaching agreement, and Apple is getting sued for hiring from Samsung and A123, because must not have had a no-poaching agreement. Why not just sue Apple for hiring. Or not hiring. Or, cutting to the real reason for the lawsuits, for having too much money?

[Inkling]

Apple can't win for losing. The feds go after it for making anti-poaching agreements with other high-tech firms. The media goes after them for poaching from other high-tech firms.