China’s Hytera charged with conspiring to steal technology
(Reuters) — The U.S. Justice Department said Monday it has brought criminal charges against China-based telecommunications company Hytera, accusing it of conspiring with former Motorola Solutions Inc. employees to steal the American company's digital mobile radio technology.
In a partially redacted indictment unsealed in Chicago, the government said Shenzhen-based Hytera Communications Corp. recruited Motorola Solutions employees to steal proprietary trade data about the radios, known as walkie-talkies.
The indictment charges Hytera by name, but it redacts the names of other co-defendants in the case, at least some of whom are the former Motorola Solutions employees the Chinese company is accused of recruiting. The indictment said Hytera recruited Motorola Solutions employees from 2007 through 2020, and that these workers received higher salaries and benefits than what they received at Motorola Solutions in exchange for stealing the trade secrets.
Hytera was charged with 21 criminal counts including conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets. Hytera and the unidentified other defendants were also charged with possessing or attempting to possess stolen trade secrets. If convicted, Hytera would face a criminal fine of three times the value of the stolen trade secrets.
Hytera and Motorola Solutions did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
