Vacuum powerhouse Dyson filed legal proceedings Wednesday against Bosch in Britain's High Court, accusing its German rival of having obtained corporate secrets through a mole within a high-security research and development department.
Dyson, known for its popular bagless vacuum cleaner, claims a rogue engineer working in its facility in Malmesbury for Dyson digital motors was handing information on "secret motor technology" to Bosch for up to two years.
Dyson representatives say the company was forced to take legal action after Bosch refused to return the technology or cease using it for its own products.
Dyson alleges that Bosch paid the mole through an unincorporated business created solely for that purpose and that Bosch's vice president, Wolfgang Hirschburger, was aware of the engineer's work.
Mark Taylor, Dyson Research and Development director, said Bosch benefited from Dyson's know-how and expertise.
Bosch disputed some of the facts.
It said in a statement that Dyson had employed an individual with a pre-existing consultancy agreement with Bosch Lawn and Garden Ltd. in relation to garden products — "and not vacuum cleaners or hand dryers as Dyson implies."
The company expressed regret that Dyson has pursued legal action, saying it has been trying to establish what happened and what, if any, confidential information was supposedly passed between the companies.
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