Callaway Golf Co. filed suit in in Portland early this week accusing Nike and the former Callaway executive Robert L. Arluna of “misappropriating trade secrets,” in violation of Oregon law. The judge presiding over this court temporarily prevented Arluna from starting work at Nike Golf while the judge
sorts through these allegations.
Nike Golf hired Arluna earlier this month as marketing director. Arluna had been Callaway's director of Odyssey Brand Management, responsible for its Odyssey line of putters. According to local papers, Callaway said that Arluna “knows of product development plans and pricing schemes about Odyssey and other brands that compete directly with Nike Golf.”
Callaway has an “employee invention and confidentiality agreement” as well as an “information security agreement,” both of which forbid former employees from sharing Callaway's trade secrets.
In a response filed in court, Nike noted that Callaway has offered no proof that trade secrets have been divulged, and never had Arluna sign a noncompete agreement.
