While the Justice Department is investigating whether or not Apple and Google secretly colluded to not steal each others employees, it looks like Jobs proposed a similar deal to Palm. But he got shut down.

According to emails reviewed by Bloomberg, Jobs proposed a deal to then-CEO Ed Colligan after Palm hired away iPod honcho Jon Rubinstein. What'd Colligan say?

"Your proposal that we agree that neither company will hire the other's employees, regardless of the individual's desires, is not only wrong, it is likely illegal," Colligan said to Jobs, 54, according to the communications. Colligan said he thought about Jobs's proposal and considered offering hiring concessions, before deciding against it, according to the exchanges.

Ya burnt! Of course, Steve was fine with stealing employees from Palm, as Apple had already hired away 2% of its workforce to develop the iPhone. But when it's the other way around? Bring on the shady backroom deals! [Bloomberg via Silicon Alley Insider; image from this Photoshop Contest]

Send an email to Adam Frucci, the author of this post, at adam@gizmodo.com.