Three former employees of Archant’s magazines division have settled
a confidentiality row out of court after the regional publisher
threatened to sue over their plans to set up a rival title.
David
Foster, Sam Spurdens and Andrew Williams, all former staff at Pilot
magazine, have stalled court action by agreeing to hand over company
information that they took with them when they left the magazine.
Archant
Specialist, which publishes 20 magazines, had originally issued a court
writ demanding damages for breach of employment contract and duties of
confidence that could have run to more than £300,000.
The company
had also asked for a court order to force the three to hand over all
files, papers, documents and computer discs which belonged to the
company or its clients.
Farine Clarke, managing director of
Archant Specialist, said: “A way forward has been agreed between the
parties which has included the return of material belonging to Archant.
“Generally
speaking, we always wish anyone who enters into the publishing arena
success, even if they choose to publish in the market in which we
operate, as often this grows the market to everyone’s benefit.
“However,
Archant will treat very seriously any circumstances where confidential
and commercially sensitive information belonging to Archant is taken.”
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