Thaindian News

PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA (BNO NEWS) — Hewlett-Packard (HP) on Tuesday sued its former CEO, Mark Hurd, in response to the news of Hurd’s intention to join Oracle as co-president.

The company said in a statement that it filed a civil complaint in the California Superior Court against Hurd because he “signed agreements designed to protect HP’s trade secrets and confidential information.”

“Hurd will be in a situation in which he cannot perform his duties for Oracle without necessarily using and disclosing HP’s trade secrets and confidential information to others,” the company added.

HP believes that a Hurd’s appointment as Oracle’s President and member of its Board of Directors puts HP’s most valuable trade secrets and confidential information in peril.

The company also remarked that its former CEO was paid millions of dollars in exchange for Hurd’s agreements to protect trade secrets and confidential information during his tenure with HP and after his departure.

On August 6, Hurd decided to present his resignation his positions within HP following an investigation surrounding a claim of sexual harassment against Hurd and HP by a former contractor to HP, who later identified herself as actress Jodie Fisher.

The investigation determined there was no violation of HP’s sexual harassment policy, but did find violations of HP’s Standards of Business Conduct. Hurd had a personal relationship with Fisher.