Huawei product designers arrested and charged with espionage for giving intel to LeEco

by Luis D. / Jan 18, 2017, 8:27 PM

Huawei product designers arrested and charged with espionage for giving intel to LeEco

While it's not talked about often, industrial espionage is rampant in the mobile technology business. Competing fairly and sensibly can only get one so far in a field this challenging, saturated and fast-paced. So if one is to go about sneaking into their rival's backyeard, they best not forget the number one rule of espionage – which is "don't get caught!"

Sadly, it seems six product designers at Huawei forgot this most important rule while leaking confidential data to fellow Chinese firm LeEco. The latter has been making headlines with its efforts of selling its affordable smartphones in the U.S. at competitive prices while working on stuff like smart bycicles and electric cars, among many other things.

Huawei has already pressed charges against the alleged snitches. Meanwhile, LeEco denies receiving information from them and bounces the topic back to another pressing matter. Huawei insists that LeEco stole 2 technological patents for an antenna design and a children's smartwatch from them. The alleged informants' recent arrest is another drop of bad blood between the two.

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source: PCPop (Translated) via GizChina

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15 Comments

1. Rydsmith unregistered

Copy from US or S. Korea, that's cool. But copy from another Chinese copy, you're arrested and going to jair.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 8:37 PM 3

4. Arch_Fiend

Posts: 3944; Member since: Oct 03, 2015

Coping a design isn't the same as spying and leaking confidential data lol.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 9:14 PM 6

15. NarutoKage14

Posts: 1306; Member since: Aug 31, 2016

That's the sad truth. China encourages their companies to copy or even steal from foreign companies but not each other. Corporate espionage is very common in China considering the Chinese government has been accused multiple times of doing it on behalf of their companies.

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 9:16 AM 0

2. Settings

Posts: 2943; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

China copies *insert OEM* designs, no lawsuit. China copies China, sue festival. I don't get it.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 8:41 PM 6

5. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3098; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

They don't sue in China. They throw your a$$ in jail and it's hard time.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 9:55 PM 2

12. Bondurant

Posts: 779; Member since: Jun 04, 2014

If those OEMs had a legit claim, they would have filed a lawsuit against those big Chinese companies.

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 2:55 AM 0

3. rnagic

Posts: 215; Member since: Jul 13, 2014

Viva le resistance!

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 8:42 PM 0

6. Bobbii

Posts: 42; Member since: Jan 18, 2017

LeEco copies Huawei's big black bezel.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 10:46 PM 0

7. Joosty

Posts: 466; Member since: Mar 14, 2013

Is the data actually confidential if it is merely copied data? Philosoraptor*

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 12:15 AM 2

9. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Nice!

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 12:42 AM 1

8. Af1rPA

Posts: 712; Member since: Jun 12, 2014

*backyard, *bicycle

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 12:21 AM 0

13. zeppo

Posts: 200; Member since: Jul 21, 2015

"backyeard" iPhonarena

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 2:58 AM 0

10. Johnnokia

Posts: 1158; Member since: May 27, 2012

Enjoy while two thieves are fighting lol

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 1:00 AM 3

11. ShadowSnypa786

Posts: 485; Member since: Jan 06, 2017

Wasn't it a few months ago people were saying Huawei workers are loyal and they lose pay to make sure the company does well?? Seems like these workers didn't get that memo LOL