Apple, Google, Intel and four other technology companies were ordered by a judge to face an antitrust lawsuit claiming they illegally agreed not to poach each other's employees.

US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, rejected the companies' bid to dismiss claims brought under the Sherman Act and California state law, in a decision released lastnight.

Other defendants in the case included Adobe Systems, Intuit, Walt Disney's Pixar unit and Lucasfilm.

The proposed class action lawsuit was brought by five software engineers, who accused the companies of conspiring to depress employee pay by eliminating competition for skilled labour.

Reuters