Waymo can’t use its self-driving forecasts, but it can use Uber’s, judge rules

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SAN FRANCISCO—Less than a week before a contentious trade secrets trial is set to begin, lawyers from Waymo and Uber squared off one final time in court on Tuesday morning.

US District Judge William Alsup told Waymo that its lawyers could not present projected financial figures for the self-driving car market, lest they influence the jury improperly. Rather, he wants the case to remain focused on the eight specific trade secrets at issue.

“So if we put big numbers out there, there’s a risk that the jury will fall for the big numbers,” he said, comparing it to patent cases. Such a ruling is potentially a large win for Uber if the company is ultimately found liable in the case.