In a stunning escalation of the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) wars, Joby Aviation Inc. has accused rival Archer Aviation Inc. of orchestrating corporate espionage by poaching a key employee laden with stolen trade secrets. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in California Superior Court in Santa Cruz, claims Archer used confidential information to undercut Joby’s exclusive partnership with a real estate developer. “This is corporate espionage, planned and premeditated,” Joby stated in the complaint, marking a rare public eruption of dirty tactics in the race to dominate urban air mobility.

Joby, a leader in the eVTOL sector with FAA Part 135 certification already in hand, alleges that George Kivork, its former U.S. state and local policy lead, downloaded dozens of sensitive files and forwarded some to his personal email just two days before resigning in July to join Archer. The suit details how Archer, which had recruited Kivork, leveraged this “highly confidential” intelligence to approach Joby’s partner with a “more lucrative deal” by August, prompting the developer to attempt termination of its Joby agreement.

The Insider’s Digital Heist

According to the complaint, Kivork’s actions were no accident. Joby claims forensic analysis revealed systematic exfiltration of documents detailing proprietary strategies for vertiport development, regulatory negotiations, and partnership economics—core to Joby’s vertically integrated push toward commercialization. CNBC reported that the stolen materials gave Archer an unfair edge in negotiations, allowing it to “one-up” Joby’s terms with precision only insider knowledge could provide.

The eVTOL industry, valued at billions with FAA certification timelines tightening, has seen Joby pull ahead through milestones like acquiring Xwing’s autonomy division in June 2024 and securing Part 135 certification over two years ago, enabling pre-commercial testing. Archer, meanwhile, has pursued aggressive partnerships but trails in some regulatory markers. This suit arrives as both firms’ stocks have surged—Joby up over 100% and Archer 68% year-to-date—amid intensifying certification races, per TechBuzz.

Joby’s Global Momentum Clashed

Joby’s recent triumphs underscore the stakes. In November 2025, it inked a letter of intent with Kazakhstan’s Alatau Advance Air Group for up to $250 million in aircraft, plus supply chain collaboration on rare earths. Partnerships with Delta Air Lines, Red Sea Global, and Dubai’s RTA position Joby for 2026 launches in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Yet the lawsuit paints Archer as exploiting Joby’s policy expertise—Kivork’s domain—to disrupt these foundations, particularly state-level real estate deals critical for vertiport infrastructure.

Reuters noted the complaint became public Thursday, with Joby seeking injunctions, damages, and return of materials. Reuters highlighted the case’s filing in Joby’s home court, signaling a home-field bid to halt Archer’s alleged misuse. Archer has not publicly responded, but industry watchers anticipate a fierce defense in this zero-sum certification sprint.

Rivals in the Regulatory Runway

The backdrop is a fiercely competitive eVTOL landscape where first-mover advantage could capture markets from New York to Dubai. Joby’s Xwing acquisition bolstered its autonomy tech, completing over 250 fully autonomous flights, while Archer focuses on Midnight aircraft scaling. AVweb quoted Joby’s suit verbatim on the “espionage” charge, emphasizing premeditation via Kivork’s timed downloads.

Yahoo Finance echoed TechCrunch’s initial report, framing Kivork’s jump as the vector for secrets that could “irreparably harm” Joby’s leads. Posts on X from TechCrunch amplified the story, garnering thousands of views and underscoring investor buzz in this high-stakes duel.

Precedent and Perils in Aviation IP Wars

Corporate espionage suits are rarities in aviation but echo broader tech battles, like Uber-Waymo. Joby’s vertical integration—from batteries to software—makes its IP sacrosanct, with recent Australian certification applications extending its global runway. Archer’s silence contrasts Joby’s proactive filings, including Saudi regenerative tourism tie-ups valued implicitly in the hundreds of millions.

Seeking Alpha detailed how the theft allegedly impacted “exclusive partnerships,” per the suit. Seeking Alpha noted stock implications as eVTOL hype meets legal friction, with Joby’s Dubai Airshow demos juxtaposed against this shadow war.

Unfolding Legal Skies

As the case progresses, expect discovery to unearth emails, server logs, and developer testimonies. Joby’s Part 135 edge—testing procedures years ahead—amplifies the espionage’s alleged bite, potentially delaying Archer’s catch-up. TradingView News covered the Reuters update, stressing California state court venue for swift trade secret remedies.

Devdiscourse reported the update, framing it as a sustainability sector rift. With Joby’s Kazakhstan LOI and Delta integrations, the suit positions this not as isolated theft but systemic threat to its 2026 commercial launches across hemispheres.