Google-backed Magic Leap alleges workers stole its secrets

Magic Leap has emerged as one of artificial reality's most intriguing start-ups.

Artificial reality startup Magic Leap is accusing two Silicon Valley employees of stealing the closely guarded secrets that make its technological tricks work. The allegations of betrayal and skullduggery surfaced in a lawsuit that Florida-based Magic Leap filed late Thursday in federal court after the two workers, Gary Bradski and Adrian Kaeler, sued the company for wrongful termination earlier this week.

An attorney for Bradski and Kaeler denied the company's allegations. The legal tussle over intellectual property and stock options highlights the rising stakes in artificial reality as more technology companies bet it will produce the industry's next big breakthroughs.

Magic Leap has emerged as one of artificial reality's most intriguing startups while raising $1.4 billion from list of investors that include Google and China's Alibaba Group.