{{Four of the biggest technology firms – Apple, Google, Intel and Adobe – have settled a class action case alleging they conspired to hold down salaries.}}<\/p>\n
The case alleged that the firms agreed not to poach staff from each other, which it claimed prevented workers from getting better job offers.<\/p>\n
The firms did not disclose the details of the settlement.<\/p>\n
The US lawsuit had claimed $3bn (\u00a31.8bn) in damages on behalf of more than 64,000 workers at the four firms.<\/p>\n
If the companies had lost the case and damages were awarded, they could have tripled to $9bn under US antitrust laws.<\/p>\n
The case was scheduled for hearing next month and was being closely watched for details about the alleged pact between the firms.<\/p>\n
{{Disclosing tactics?}}<\/p>\n
According to some reports, one email exchange cited in the lawsuit shows Eric Schmidt, former chief executive of Google, telling Steve Jobs the former boss of Apple that a Google recruiter who solicited an Apple employee would be fired.<\/p>\n
Mr Jobs forwarded that note to the a top human resources executive at Apple with a smiley face.<\/p>\n
Another exchange shows Google’s human resources directors asking Mr Schmidt about sharing the no-cold call pact with other competitors.<\/p>\n
“Schmidt responded that he preferred it be shared ‘verbally, since I don’t want to create a paper trail over which we can be sued later?'”, the Reuters news agency quoted the court filing as saying.<\/p>\n
Chuck Mulloy, spokesman for Intel, said the firm denies any wrongdoing but chose to settle “to avoid the risks, burdens and uncertainties of ongoing litigation.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Adobe said in a statement: “We firmly believe that our recruiting policies have in no way diminished competition for talent in the marketplaces.”<\/p>\n
Google and Apple declined to comment.<\/p>\n
Some of the aggrieved employees in the class-action lawsuit worked at software maker Intuit and filmmakers Pixar Animation and Lucasfilm.<\/p>\n
Intuit, Pixar and Lucasfilm had previously negotiated a $20m settlement of the claims against them. That still needs court approval.<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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