Joby and Archer’s trade-secret battle inches along in federal court

Joby has requested a jury trial as Archer seeks to have the case dismissed.

The trade-secret legal battle between air taxi developers Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation continues, with the latter asking a federal judge to dismiss the claims.

The companies have been facing off in court since November 2025, when Joby sued Archer over claims that it misused information gleaned from a former Joby employee. Joby also sued that former employee, who took a job with Archer after leaving Joby.

Much rests on the outcome of the case, which involves two of the best-known developers of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Both firms are racing to bring air taxis to market and working to keep investors interested amid incredibly expensive development and certification processes that have no guarantee of success.

“Joby does not allege facts describing the specific information Archer supposedly received, when it received it, how it used it or how any alleged use was improper,” Archer told judge Susan van Keulen in a 6 July filing with the US Federal Court for the Northern District of California.

Joby’s complaint “fails to allege any misconduct or misappropriation”, Archer adds.

It asks the judge to toss the case and requests the court set a hearing to review the dismissal on 11 August.

The parties have gone back and forth for months. Archer on 9 March countersued, accusing Joby of fraud by hiding business ties to China’s communist party, misclassifying imported Chinese goods on shipping records and receiving technology development grants from Beijing.

On 5 June, the judge tossed Archer’s claims and some of Joby’s, but gave Joby a chance to refile its suit. Joby did so on 22 June and requests a jury trial.

Both companies deny wrongdoing.

Archer also in April filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (USITC), alleging that Joby’s imported Chinese components infringed its patents. A USITC investigation is ongoing.