Fired Executive Accuses Netflix And Amazon Of 'Cutthroat And Unlawful Campaign' To Blacklist Him In Million-Dollar Lawsuit
Netflix's former director of content acquisition, Jerry Kowal, filed the lawsuit, which also names Amazon as a defendant. That suit says he left for a new job on Amazon's digital video team in June 2013 after realizing Netflix had a "toxic culture." On his way out the door, Kowal claims, Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos told him he would "regret going to Amazon."
Indeed, Netflix began its "retaliatory campaign" against Kowal just a week after he started working for Amazon, according to the complaint, which was posted online by The Hollywood Reporter. In front of 200 Netflix employees and board members, Sarandos and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings allegedly said the company was investigating Kowal for using stolen trade secrets to compete against his former employer.
Kowal says Amazon fired him even though he was ultimately cleared of any trade theft. According to the complaint, Amazon said it had a "strict liability" policy that mandated his termination. The complaint implies the two tech giants were conspiring against him:
Court document
Court document
Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
- Vodafone Idea FPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP and more
- Agri exports fall 9% to $43.7 bn during Apr-Feb 2024 due to global, domestic factors
- Best flower valleys to visit in India in 2024
- Nifty sees modest gain, Sensex inches higher; Market sentiment remains cautious amid global developments
- Heatwave: Political parties focusing more on evening meetings, small gatherings
- 9 Most beautiful waterfalls to visit in India in 2024