Uber-Alphabet legal tussle over patent escalates

SAN FRANCISCO: The legal tussle between ride-hailing company Uber and Google's parent company Alphabet escalated when the court allowed Uber to seek deposition of Alphabet CEO Larry Page for up to four hours.

Along with Page, Uber will be allowed to seek deposition of David Drummond, Alphabet's chief legal officer and senior Vice-President of corporate development, reported Fortune on Saturday.

"As set forth in Uber's letter brief, Larry Page has first-hand non-repetitive knowledge of relevant facts," a court document filed on Friday read.

"Further, less intrusive means, such as interrogatories, are not sufficient," the document added.

The depositions were requested by Uber, which is being sued for alleged patent infringement and stealing trade secrets by Waymo, the self-driving project of Alphabet.

Uber views these depositions as critical information to determining Alphabet's motivation behind the lawsuit and whether it was simply a tactic to delay the development of its self-driving vehicle technology.

Waymo insisted that the depositions were not appropriate but the court agreed with Uber's argument, the report said.