Former Lockheed Skunkworks Engineer Auctioning a Prototype "Spy Rock"

ilikenwf writes "For a cool $10,000,000.00, the prototype of a surveillance rock full of spy gadgets could be yours! More importantly, server backups from the gentleman's time at Lockheed are included, being the real valuable in this auction, as it contains schematics and such. The seller seems to think that the current xBee radio products are actually based on his work with Lockheed. The proceeds will go towards legal action the seller is apparently taking against his former employer." This may be the most unusual eBay product description I've ever encountered, and one of the most interesting, too.

Re:What?

[lxs]

Sounds about right for a second hand webcam in a Styrofoam rock.

Re:IP Rights

[Darinbob]

Sounds like he was fired from the contract company that he was 10% owner of, and told that Lockheed did not buy the product (and thus no delivery of the final product). And now it appear that either Lockheed did buy the product after all or else it was sold at a later date to a third party (somehow xBee eventually got it). So he wants his 10%. The suit is against this contractor company.

Re:IP Rights

[jythie]

One of the risks of working on DoD projects is they have a nice little loophole in patent law that allows them to take IP from one company and give it to another without risking legal consequences. There have been quite a few documented cases over the years of well connected 'buddy' contractors essentially going to the DoD and saying 'company X has cool stuff, but we do not want to pay for it, so how about we build it for you instead?' and getting the stolen IP. Since it is connected to 'national security' the normal laws are suspended.

Re:IP Rights

[Zenin]

All of which makes the eBay auction an absolutely brilliant legal maneuver:

To shut down the eBay auction Lockheed would have to claim ownership of the IP...which would mean admitting to fraud and making it legally liable to a hell of a lot more then just his 10% share (especially given the claims of continued use of his IP in other projects), likely including serious criminal charges.

If they don't take the bait...he's potentially $10M richer and still retains IP rights and can still use that to pursue the use of his tech in other projects (drones, etc).

It's by far better legal leverage than he'd ever see in a court room.