In a law suit by Microsoft against Google for latter's hiring Microsoft former executive, Kai-fu Lee, King County Superior Court Judge Steven Gonzalex ruled baring Lee from doing work on products, services or projects he worked on at Microsoft, including computer search technology, pending a trial set for January. The court also ruled that a noncompete agreement Lee signed with Microsoft is valid.
Dr. Kai-fu Lee, the $10 million man, the highest paid human resources director in history, cannot set budget or compensation levels or define the research that Google will do in China, but he can hire people to work there, the judge said.
Lee joined Microsoft in 2000, but left in July to lead Google's expansion into China. (Source: Gene Johnson, AP, Sept. 14, 2005).