Google responds to PayPal lawsuit on alleged stealing of trade secrets

Google responds to PayPal lawsuit on alleged stealing of tradesecrets

SAN FRANCISCO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Google on Friday said it willdefend itself against allegations by PayPal that the Internet searchgiant and two of its executives stole trade secrets to develop itsmobile payment system.

PayPal's lawsuit came on Thursday, hours after Google announcedits mobile payment system Google Wallet and laid out plans to bringtogether all parts of retail experience on smartphones.

"We respect trade secrets and will defend ourselves against theseclaims," said Google in a statement sent to media here.

The two executives named in the PayPal lawsuit are Osama Bedierand Stephanie Tilenius, two ex-PayPal executives who now directlyoversee Google's mobile payment initiative. Both were on stage inThursday's introduction event held in New York.

PayPal said Bedier, who left the company in January, discussed ajob with Google while simultaneously leading negotiations to makePayPal a payment option on Google's Android-based smartphones.

Bedier is alleged to have transferred the information aboutPayPal's mobile payment strategy to his computer before leaving thecompany.

Tilenius, who left eBay, PayPal's mother company in 2009, wasunder contract not to recruit PayPal employees. She is alleged togive advices to Bedier on a Google offering through Facebookmessages, e-mails and text messages.

"Silicon Valley was built on the ability of individuals to usetheir knowledge and expertise to seek better employmentopportunities, an idea recognized by both California law and publicpolicy," said Google in the statement.

Google on Thursday introduced its mobile payment system GoogleWallet, bundled with its coupon service Google Offers. The twoservices will allow consumers with Android smartphones to makepayments or receive coupons and offers by waving the device in frontof a special reader at the checkout counter.