时间:2025-02-28 19:40:32 来源:网络整理编辑:焦點
If you thought the Waymo v. Uber trial wrapped up when the companies settled early last year ... wel
If you thought the Waymo v. Uber trial wrapped up when the companies settled early last year ... well, nope.
An unsealed federal indictment Tuesday revealed 33 charges against engineer-turned-executive Anthony Levandowski, whose arraignment is set for this afternoon in San Jose. If convicted, Levandowski faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Levandowski was an engineer at what was then called Project Chauffeur at Google (it later became Waymo) before he started his own autonomous truck company, Otto, in 2015. That business was quickly snatched up for $680 million by Uber, which was starting to develop its own self-driving car program.
The indictment states that Levandowski took 14,000 files related to light sensors, or LiDAR, from Google, put them on his personal laptop, and brought them to Uber.
The indictment is already affecting the self-driving industry. Last year, Levandowski launched a new driver assistance company called Pronto focused on truck drivers. When the charges were unsealed Tuesday, the company announced that Levandowski was no longer the CEO and Pronto's chief safety officer would take on the role.
"The criminal charges filed against Anthony relate exclusively to [LiDAR] and do not in any way involve Pronto’s ground-breaking technology," the statement read. "Of course, we are fully supportive of Anthony and his family during this period."
When Pronto first launched, Levandowski wrote a blog post that included the line, "Yes, I'm back."
Waymo's response to the indictment over its stolen materials was measured, calling Levandowski a "former Project Chauffeur employee." A spokesperson said in an email, "We have always believed competition should be fueled by innovation, and we appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI on this case.”
Uber fired Levandowski in 2017. In response to the charges, a spokesperson said, "We’ve cooperated with the government throughout their investigation and will continue to do so.”
Back in February 2018, after four days of testimony (we heard nothing from Levandowski, who invoked the Fifth Amendment), Waymo and Uber settled, with Uber agreeing to give Google parent company Alphabet .34 percent equity, worth $245 million.
UPDATE: Aug. 27, 2019, 4:40 p.m. PDT A statement from Uber was added above.
TopicsSelf-Driving CarsUber
5 people Tim Cook calls for advice on running the biggest company in the world2025-02-28 19:30
England wins the best World Cup meme because 'It's Coming Home'2025-02-28 18:59
Google CEO Sundar Pichai says company will appeal record fine from EU ruling2025-02-28 18:34
We are sorry to say that Don Jr. posted some Fourth of July memes of his dad2025-02-28 18:15
Whyd voice2025-02-28 17:33
Barbie has a brand2025-02-28 17:25
Scientists have developed the world's first full2025-02-28 17:20
Peep these fresh 'Game of Thrones' sneakers that we need right now2025-02-28 17:11
Dog elected for third term as mayor of Minnesota town2025-02-28 17:01
'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' cuts lesbian backstory2025-02-28 16:58
Two states took big steps this week to get rid of the tampon tax2025-02-28 19:33
The top 10 games of 2018 (so far)2025-02-28 19:20
Jaguar escaped from the zoo and killed a bunch of animals and now I'm sad!2025-02-28 19:13
After Annapolis newsroom shooting, focus turns to Trump's media bashing2025-02-28 19:08
Michael Phelps says goodbye to the pool with Olympic gold2025-02-28 18:54
Facebook announces 'Keyword Snooze' feature for ignoring the world2025-02-28 18:39
'Pose' should probably not bring Evan Peters back for Season 22025-02-28 18:01
McDonald's is ditching plastic straws in Australia too2025-02-28 17:59
Mom discovers security cameras hacked, kids' bedroom livestreamed2025-02-28 17:46
Dark Knight 10th Anniversary: Film will return to IMAX theaters2025-02-28 17:40