Other companies accused of paying for the confidential data are Kaedar Electronics of China – in which Asustek owns a stake – and Korea's Cresyn.
Cresyn had entered into an agreement to provide Devine with $6,000 in monthly payments, under a “consulting services agreement,” Apple's lawsuit states.
The lawsuit adds that emails had been found on Devine's personal accounts which instructed the companies to pay no more than $10,000 each time to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
Devine had been earning an annual salary of over $100,000 - plus stock and options - as an Apple employee.