For Papermaster, it means missing out a lifetime opportunity to work with Apple, for IBM, the move is to preserve trade secrets that Papermaster gained during his days at IBM from being leaked to Apple. Federal District Judge Kenneth Karas has ordered Papermaster to cease his work with Apple until further order. Papermaster joined Apple to replace the outgoing iPod section head Tony Fadell.

Earlier IBM sued Apple and Papermaster for breach of contract. IBM is determined to pick apart each word in the contract papers signed by Papermaster when he joined IBM. The contract papers has it that Papermaster is not to work for any competitor should he leave IBM. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court in White Plains. N.Y.

It is not known yet whether Papermaster will head back to IBM or rot away a sweet one year time because of the non-compete clause as Apple on the other hand search for a new replacement.