Yu

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 YINTAO YU, Case No. 23-cv-04910-SI

Plaintiff,

ORDER FOR FURTHER BRIEFING

v. Re: Dkt. Nos. 14, 25, 26 BYTEDANCE INC., et al., Defendants.

12 13 On December 1, the Court held a hearing on defendants’ motion to compel arbitration based on the ECIAA, the Stock Option Assignment Agreement, the Patent Assignment Agreement, and the Undertaking Agreement. At the hearing, defense counsel asserted that the latter 3 agreements are at issue in this case because, inter alia, defendants intend to assert affirmative defenses and/or counterclaims based on those agreements. In light of the unusual procedural history of all of the litigation between the parties, the Court finds that it is appropriate for defendants to file an answer prior to any ruling by the Court on the pending motion to compel arbitration. Defendants shall file their answers by December 21, 2023. As the Court indicated at the hearing, the Court is inclined to find that Yu has…