Oct 30 (Reuters) -

Palantir Technologies ( PLTR ) on Thursday sued two of its

former senior engineers, accusing them of using the software

company's secret information to launch a "copycat" firm,

Percepta AI.

The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court claims that Radha Jain

and Joanna Cohen were "entrusted with Palantir's ( PLTR ) crown jewels,"

including its source code and customer information, and breached

agreements they signed with the company to safeguard that

information.

Palantir said that just like its own AI-powered software,

Percepta's products are designed to make businesses and

government agencies more efficient using data they already

possess.

Jain left Palantir in November 2024 after helping to design and

build its flagship software, and Cohen, who worked on AI

solutions for individual customers, resigned in February,

according to the lawsuit. Percepta AI, which is owned by venture

capital firm General Catalyst, was publicly unveiled earlier

this month.

"Jain's and Cohen's deception and violation of their

agreements with Palantir are black and white," the company said

in the lawsuit.

Percepta, which is not a defendant in the lawsuit, and Jain

did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Cohen could

not immediately be reached.

Percepta hired at least 10 former Palantir employees within

months of its founding last year, and nearly half its workforce

are former Palantir staffers, including co-founder and CEO Hirsh

Jain, according to the complaint.

Palantir says Jain and Cohen signed agreements barring them

from competing with the company for one year after leaving, from

soliciting Palantir customers or employees for two years, and

from using any of the company's confidential information outside

their employment.

The lawsuit accuses Jain and Cohen of breaching those

agreements and seeks to force them to comply with them.