Tesla Sues Former Engineer Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft
Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has filed a lawsuit against a former engineer, Zhongjie “Jay” Li, accusing him of stealing trade secrets linked to the eagerly awaited Optimus Humanoid robot.
According to the complaint filed in federal court in San Francisco, Li worked at Tesla from August 2022 until September 2024 before co-founding a new company called Proception Inc.
The lawsuit claims that Li was involved in developing advanced robotic hand sensors and downloaded sensitive Optimus files onto two smartphones just before leaving Tesla.
Following his departure, Li allegedly began working on a humanoid robot hand that reportedly bore a striking resemblance to Tesla’s Optimus, which he claims was developed just five months after he left.
Tesla’s lawsuit states, “The defendant chose a shortcut through theft rather than legitimate innovation, misusing Tesla’s sensitive materials to advance his startup without engaging in proper development processes.”
The company seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages from Li, alongside an injunction to stop him and his associates from using Tesla’s trade secrets. Tesla has also requested a jury trial.
Li lists his role as founder and CEO of a startup on his LinkedIn, stating that it focuses on “one of the most challenging and exciting humanoid projects of our time,” based in Palo Alto, California.
He has not publicly commented on the lawsuit yet.
The court documents highlight the complexities of creating advanced robotic hands, described as one of the most difficult challenges in robotics.
“While Tesla hasn’t disclosed exact year-over-year investments in Optimus, we anticipate R&D costs amounting to billions,” the lawsuit indicates. “Projects of this scale require unmatched expertise and significant time and financial investment.”
Musk has referred to the Optimus robot as crucial for the long-term success and growth of Tesla.
He emphasized the importance of Optimus’ advanced robotic hands during Tesla’s revenue call in January, stating, “My long-term forecast is that Optimus will be overwhelmingly worth the company.”
