Archer Aviation said a California federal court dismissed some of Joby Aero’s trade-secret and contract claims against it, along with Archer’s counterclaims, in a ruling issued Sept. 29. Joby sued Archer in 2025, alleging former employee George Kivork took confidential information on business strategies, partnership terms and aircraft specifications before joining the rival. A forensic investigation cited in the lawsuit found Kivork sent dozens of Joby files to a personal email account and changed security permissions on hundreds more after leaving the company. Joby also alleged Archer used the information to undercut an agreement with a real-estate developer and sought unspecified damages and an order barring use of the trade secrets. The dispute is part of broader legal friction in the race to commercialize electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Archer settled separate trade-secret claims brought by Boeing-owned Wisk in 2023 and sued Vertical Aerospace for patent infringement earlier this year.