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TECHNOLOGY Wednesday 31 May 2017

Uber fires autonomous car researcher involved in lawsuit

TOM KRISHER Friday, stated. It said that
AP Auto Writer Levandowski was fired for
DETROIT (AP) — Uber has cause and that he has a
followed through on threats contractual right to cor-
to fire star autonomous- rect “deficiencies” within
car researcher Anthony 20 days. A telephone mes-
Levandowski, whose hiring sage was left Tuesday af-
touched off a bitter trade- ternoon for Levandowski.
secrets fight with Waymo, His lawyers did not immedi-
the former self-driving car ately respond to a request
arm of Google. for comment.
Waymo has alleged that San Francisco-based Uber
Levandowski downloaded appears to be blaming the
14,000 documents contain- stolen documents solely on
ing its trade secrets before Levandowski in an effort to
he left the company to defend itself against Way-
found a startup that was mo’s lawsuit.
later purchased by Uber. The company’s letter to
Earlier this month, U.S. Dis- Levandowski states that
trict Judge William Alsup he “represented and war-
ordered Uber to return the ranted” in his employment
documents and referred agreement that he has
the case to the U.S. Attor- returned or destroyed all
ney’s Office in San Fran- property and confidential In this Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, Anthony Levandowski, head of Uber’s self-driving program, speaks
cisco for possible criminal information from any previ- about their driverless car in San Francisco.
investigation. ous employer. Associated Press
Uber General Counsel Sal- On May 19, Uber threat- said Alsup’s order “has thus his startup for $680 million embroil him in even deep-
le Yoo told Levandowski ened to fire Levandowski placed Mr. Levandowski on nine months ago. Uber er legal trouble. The U.S. At-
in a letter filed in court by unless he waived his con- the horns of an unconstitu- wants to develop a fleet torney’s Office would not
Levandowski’s lawyers that stitutional right against self- tional dilemma: either he of self-driving cars so its ser- comment on any possible
he hasn’t complied with incrimination so the ride- must waive his Fifth Amend- vice eventually won’t have investigation.
Uber’s requests to cooper- hailing service could com- ment rights and provide to rely on people to pick up Uber had been standing
ate in obeying the judge’s ply with the court order. the information and mate- passengers. The company by Levandowski’s right to
order to return the docu- Levandowski has asserted rials specified by the order is testing autonomous cars use his Fifth Amendment
ments. his rights under the Fifth or face immediate firing.” with real passengers in Pitts- protections until Alsup is-
“Your failure impeded Amendment since Waymo Levandowski’s expertise in burgh and elsewhere. sued the decision requiring
Uber’s internal investiga- filed its lawsuit in February. robot-controlled cars is the Any admission by Levan- the company to return any
tion and defense of the In documents posted Tues- main reason that the ride- dowski that he possesses documents belonging to
lawsuit,” the letter, dated day, Levandowski’s lawyers
hailing company bought Waymo documents could Waymo by May 31.q

Taxis strike across Spain to

protest Uber, Cabify services

MADRID (AP) — Taxi driv- The strike was directed crackers and hurling plastic
ers across Spain set off fire- against the San Francisco- bottles of water and eggs
crackers and threw objects headquartered Uber and at police cordoning off ac-
at police Tuesday as they Madrid-based Cabify ser- cess to Parliament. Some
went on strike to protest the vices. brief scuffles with police
increase in cars run by pri- Unions claim these compa- also occurred but there
vate companies like Uber nies flout a law that stipu- were no immediate reports
that offer cheaper, mobile lates there should be one of arrests or injuries.
ride-hailing services. private company vehicle Eduardo Martin, president People shout slogans during a protest called by Spanish main
Travelers arriving at Ma- for every 30 taxis and pro- of Unauto VTC association taxi drivers unions in Madrid, Tuesday, May 30, 2017.
drid’s or Barcelona’s air- mote unfair competition. representing both private Associated Press
ports and train stations Thousands of taxi drivers companies, said there had ers of acting with impunity. while in Barcelona it was
found none of the usual staged a demonstration been more than 30 acts The strike was to last from due to end at midnight.q
lines of taxis waiting to pick in central Madrid at noon, of aggression against their 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Madrid
them up. with some setting off fire- cars and accused taxi driv-