Former IBM exec countersues Big Blue in bid to join Apple

Mark Papermaster, the former IBM (NYSE: IBM) executive whom Apple wants to lead its hardware engineering efforts, is ratcheting up his fight to make the move.

IBM has blocked Papermaster from taking the Apple post, citing a non-compete clause he had with Big Blue. Papermaster filed a countersuit, on Friday.

In his court filings, Papermaster said the IBM agreement is not relevant because the two companies “are not significant competitors,” InformationWeek said.

"IBM primarily provides business enterprise services, while Apple’s primary business is the design, manufacturing and marketing of consumer products," Papermaster said.

IBM sued to stop Papermaster from becoming Apple’s vice president for devices hardware engineering.

Papermaster worked for IBM in Austin, Texas, but much of the company’s blade server work is done in RTP.