Archer Details Independent Creation of Its Aircraft Design in Its Answer and Brings Counterclaims Against Wisk for Tortious Interference and Unfair Competition

Archer Aviation, Inc. (“Archer” or “the Company”), a leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) company and developer of all-electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft, today filed its Answer in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In the Answer, Archer details key information, including that it developed its “12 tilt 6” design through a leading eVTOL independent consultant before any Wisk employees ever joined Archer.

Archer also filed a Motion to Dismiss. Wisk’s case is entirely baseless. Wisk’s Complaint does not identify a single specific Wisk trade secret, let alone any evidence of misappropriation. Furthermore, there also is nothing secret about using 12 rotors on a fixed wing, tilting rotors, or a V tail. Wisk’s patent claims are equally meritless and improper; Archer does not infringe Wisk’s patents, and Wisk has no basis to allege otherwise.

In addition, Archer filed Counterclaims for tortious interference and unfair competition alleging that Wisk has made false and unsupported public statements outside of the litigation designed to harm Archer, a successful competitor.

As detailed in the Answer, Archer designed its aircraft independently, working with FlightHouse Engineering, a leading eVTOL design consultant it hired in September 2019. It was FlightHouse who first modeled the “12 tilt 6” design before any former Wisk employees joined Archer, and Archer’s Answer includes several examples of FlightHouse’s drawings and analysis in support of this fact.

The Company stated, “This lawsuit was filed by Wisk for an obvious and impermissible purpose: to impede the success of, and investment in, Archer and its state-of-the-art aircraft design. This case has nothing to do with the design of Archer’s aircraft, and everything to do with the success of Archer’s business – and the failure of Wisk’s. Wisk and its predecessors have suffered from years of disorganization and failed design, as well as employee defections, and Wisk is now improperly attempting to weaponize the legal system to achieve through bad faith litigation what it cannot accomplish through fair competition.”

Archer will hold Wisk accountable for its abuse of the legal system and its anticompetitive and tortious conduct, and will remain focused on continuing to lead the industry in designing and building the best eVTOL aircraft in the world.

To read the full text of Archer’s Answer and Counterclaims, click here. To read the full text of Archer’s Motion to Dismiss, click here.

About Archer

Archer’s mission is to advance the benefits of sustainable air mobility. Archer’s goal is to move people throughout the world's cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for use in Urban Air Mobility that can carry passengers for 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph while producing minimal noise. Archer's team is based in Palo Alto, CA.

To learn more, visit www.archer.com