(CNN) -- Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs threatened to hit Palm with patent litigation if the company did not stop poaching valuable employees, according to a newly unsealed court filing (hat tip to Reuters). The document surfaced as part of a lawsuit between former employees of companies like Apple, Google, and Intel over the companies' no-poaching agreements; US District Judge Lucy Koh denied parts of a request to keep some documents sealed, revealing Jobs' comments to Palm CEO Edward Colligan. According to the document, which was filed late Tuesday, both Apple and Palm hired one another's employees during Colligan's tenure between 2003 and 2009. Colligan claims Jobs called him in August of 2007 — roughly two months after the public launch of the iPhone — to propose "an agreement" wherein Palm and Apple would not hire employees away from each other. Colligan's statement notes that the agreement contained a pretty strong "or else" clause: "Mr. Jobs also suggested that if Palm did not agree to such an arrangement, Palm could face lawsuits alleging infringement of Apple's many patents."
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Steve Jobs threatened to sue Palm over "poaching" employees, documents say
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Former Apple CEO proposed agreement not to hire each others employees
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Palm CEO called such a deal "wrong" and "likely illegal"
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Biograpjy had mentioned Jobs' anger at Palm, but not lawsuit threats
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"Your proposal that we agree that neither company will hire the other's employees, regardless of the individual's desires, is not only wrong, it is likely illegal," Colligan wrote to @placeholder on August 24, 2007.
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Colligan went on to point out that @placeholder recruits employees based on talent, not because Palm wants to hurt other companies.
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Colligan went on to point out that Palm recruits employees based on talent, not because @placeholder wants to hurt other companies.
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"Threatening Palm with a patent lawsuit in response to a decision by one employee to leave @placeholder is just out of line.