A California man says Uber was his idea, and he wants a “significant share” of its value.
The man, Kevin Halpern, said in a lawsuit that he had discussed his business, Celluride Wireless, consisting of a car service ordered by mobile phone, with Uber co-founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp beginning in 2006. Two years later, they presented the concept for Uber at a venture capital conference. He says they never had any written agreements, only oral, but that he mailed himself a letter with details of his concept in 2005, and that the proof is in his safe.
Halpern has been litigious in the past, filing suits against the founder of OfferPal Media and the city of Santa Cruz, Calif., according to USA Today. His lawyer, Christopher Dolan, has represented plaintiffs in several other cases against Uber.
An Uber spokesperson called the claims “completely baseless” and said the company would “vigorously defend against them.”
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