Google is countersuing Microsoft after the software giant mounted a legal bid to prevent the search engine poaching one of its senior executives.
The tussle between the two technology giants began earlier this week when Microsoft filed suit in Washington state against Google for hiring engineer Kai Fu-Lee to head a research and development office in China.
It cited a non-compete agreement that Mr Lee had signed in 2000 preventing him from jumping ship. Mr Lee had helped Microsoft establish itself in China.
Google has retaliated in the Californian courts, claiming that the clause violates laws giving workers the right to change jobs.
About 39 percent of Google’s $1.38 billion in second-quarter sales came from outside the United States. Microsoft accused Lee and Google of breaking a confidentiality agreement and a non-compete clause in his contract. Lee, the most senior executive Google has snagged from Microsoft, led a group working to improve Web and computer searches.
Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake declined to comment yesterday. Google spokesman Steve Langdon also declined immediate comment.
