Sony Corp.
Apple Inc.founder Steve Jobs, in his capacity as CEO of Pixar, allegedly initiated the conspiracywith filmmaker George Lucas to curb competition between Pixar and Lucasfilm. Aftera while, more companies joined the agreement whereby they agreed not to hire eachother's employees without prior notification of job offers and abstaining from makingcounteroffers.
In 2010, four tech companies, including Apple and 's , reached a settlement withthe U.S. Department of Justice over the issue. The four companies reportedly paidabout $415 million to settle civil lawsuits with former employees.
DreamWorks AnimationSKG Inc., Walt DisneyCo., its units Pixar and Lucasfilm Ltd., and Sony Corp. units Sony PicturesAnimation and Sony Pictures Imageworks were sued in 2014 over allegations that thevisual effects and animation firms "conspired to systematically suppress thewages" of its workers, depriving them of "millions of dollars which defendantsinstead put to their bottom lines."
In addition to contributing $13 million in the settlement fund,Sony reportedly has also agreed to cooperate with plaintiffs who are pursuing thecase against other defendants.