Software giant Microsoft is taking court action to stop a former executive from taking a top mainland job with Google, a move that highlights the growing competition between the two companies as well as the shortage of top-end engineering talent in China.
Microsoft filed the suit on Tuesday in Washington state against Lee Kai-fu, former corporate vice-president of the company's natural interactive services division.
Google had earlier announced Dr Lee would lead its new product research and development centre in China, which is scheduled to open in the third quarter.
In a statement, Microsoft said Dr Lee's hiring was a breach of his 'confidentiality and non-compete' agreement with Microsoft.
Google was also named in the suit.
'As a senior executive, Dr Lee has direct knowledge of Microsoft's trade secrets concerning search technologies and China business strategies,' Microsoft said.
'He has accepted a position focused on the same set of technologies and strategies for a direct competitor in egregious violation of his explicit contractual obligations.'