Joby Aviation, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Archer Aviation in the Superior Court of California, Santa Cruce County on Wednesday, November 19 2025, with the filing made public on Thursday, November 20 2025. The complaint accuses Archer of misappropriating confidential information that Joby claims was transferred by former employee George Kivork, a former U.S. state and local policy lead who joined Archer in July 2025.
The lawsuit alleges that Kivork downloaded a cache of highly valuable files and emailed them to a personal account two days before resigning. Joby asserts that Archer used the stolen data to approach a strategic partner with a more lucrative deal, thereby undermining Joby’s business relationships. Archer denies the allegations, stating that no trade secrets were misappropriated and that Kivork did not bring any confidential Joby information to the company.
Archer’s leadership has publicly rejected the claims. CEO Adam Goldstein called the accusations “fantasy,” while Chief Legal Officer Eric Lentell said the allegations were “without merit.” Archer also maintains that it has no deal with the developer in question and that the alleged files were not used in any partnership negotiations.
The court has scheduled a hearing for March 20 2026. If the court finds in favor of Joby, Archer could face injunctive relief and damages, and the case could add legal costs and reputational risk to Archer’s already challenging path to market. For Joby, the lawsuit signals a willingness to protect its intellectual property, but it also introduces uncertainty that could divert resources from its certification and commercialization efforts.
Financially, Joby reported a Q3 2025 earnings per share of –$0.48, missing analyst consensus of –$0.19, and revenue of $22.57 million—a 7,962% year‑over‑year increase driven by a surge in test and inspection authorization activity. The company’s losses have accelerated, largely due to capital expenditures for test inspection authorization and manufacturing capacity expansion. Archer posted a Q3 2025 net loss of $129.9 million, with operating expenses of $174.8 million, and a cash burn that has pushed its free cash flow into negative territory. Archer holds $1.7 billion in cash and cash equivalents as of Q2 2025, but its FAA Type Certification progress stands at only 15% compared with Joby’s 70% completion of Stage 4 requirements.
The lawsuit adds a layer of legal and reputational risk that could influence investor confidence in both companies. Joby’s strong certification trajectory positions it for early commercial operations, but the legal battle may divert focus from its development roadmap. Archer’s slower certification pace and recent Middle East partnerships highlight its strategic push, yet the lawsuit introduces uncertainty that could affect its ability to secure new deals and maintain momentum.
Investors have reacted to the lawsuit with heightened scrutiny of Archer’s business model and potential legal exposure, while Joby’s market sentiment has been tempered by concerns over the costs and implications of the litigation. The case underscores the intensity of competition in the urban air mobility sector and the critical importance of protecting intellectual property in a rapidly evolving industry.
The legal dispute highlights the broader competitive dynamics of the eVTOL market, where certification timelines, capital intensity, and partnership agreements are pivotal. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how trade‑secret disputes are handled in the sector and may influence future regulatory and partnership strategies for both companies.
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