Feds Bust Chinese Firm's Hybrid Car Data Heist 203
coondoggie writes "An FBI investigation has led a Michigan couple to be charged with stealing hybrid car information from GM to use in a Chinese auto outfit. A federal indictment charged Yu Qin, aka Yu Chin, 49, and his wife, Shanshan Du, aka Shannon Du, 51, of Troy, Michigan with conspiracy to possess trade secrets without authorization, unauthorized possession of trade secrets, and wire fraud. One of the individuals was also charged with obstruction of justice, said Barbara McQuade, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in a statement. GM estimates that the value of the stolen documents is over $40 million."
Re:Oh noes (Score:3, Informative)
What was the last Chinese Car Manufacturer that even penetrated the US market to damage the sales of US companies?
Consider the exact opposite situation: General Motors has a significant presence in China. These documents could damage General Motors operations in China. And that might be worth $40 million.
Re:Must have been for export (Score:4, Informative)
Ah yes - the Dust to Dust report by marketing agency CNW. Debunked in many places, one of them here: http://www.pacinst.org/topics/integrity_of_science/case_studies/hummer_vs_prius.pdf [pacinst.org]
Re:Must have been for export (Score:5, Informative)
WRONG!
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/environment/recycle/battery/index.html [toyota.co.jp]
The "Big Honkin' Battery" you refer to is fully recycled. Perhaps research a bit before spouting off?
Re:WHAT? GM MADE HYBRIDS? (Score:3, Informative)
Here, let me google that for you.
http://www.gm.com/vehicles/hybrids-and-electric/hybrids/ [gm.com]
Re:Not Patents (Score:4, Informative)
How do patents ever violate free speech?
You can talk about them, copy them, repeat them, etc. You just can't do* what is described without permission from the patent holder.
* the definition of "do" varies by jurisdiction.
Re:Must have been for export (Score:3, Informative)
Hybrids are a bit of a joke, efficiency wise so I have my doubts about a domestic market for them in China.
Hybrids are pretty damn impressively efficient if applied to a medium-small vehicle used mainly in city and near-by suburbs. The joke is when you try to apply the same concept to a huge SUV. Or when the majority of your driving is out of the cities. One size does not fit all.
But you'd expect that they would get found out.
How? I'll remind a lot of readers here that these "secrets" are not always about the some new automotive technology. Manufacturers have huge teams of engineers that tackle many manufacturing processes as well. How do you increase the reliability of the manufacturing processes? How do you build more cars in the same plant in less time? How do you paint more cars with less wasted water? How do you automate lubricant application? How can you be sure the engine is ready to run at 8,000RPM right off the line without "breaking-in"? This is just the tip of the ice berg of what kind of "secrets" are out there, that would not be obvious just by looking at the car.
Re:Values (Score:1, Informative)
Research cost money. If you pay for research an your competitors do not guess who gets to sell their cars for less?
successful research is worth even more. Without the proper team, 40 million may only tell you what does not work.
Re:Oh noes (Score:2, Informative)
And we're idiots for doing it. The Chinese have no intention of letting American companies profit from their investments in China. Now that they've dragged themselves out of the impoverished, subsistence farming society that they've been stuck in as recently as the 1970s, they're going to do their damndest to ensure that the only people who profit from the newly emergent Chinese middle class are Chinese businesses.
It's already started. Look at the recent news: Google getting kicked out of China (inch by inch, but it's happening) in favor of Baidu; Westerners being arrested on trumped-up or even outright faked charges; Chinese hackers stealing billions of dollars worth of company secrets.
"Goodbye, American businesses! Hope the door hitting you on the way out didn't hurt too much! Don't worry about the factories or newly educated workforce you created in this country; we'll take good care of them, creating products to compete with you!"
This is a real problem.. details below. (Score:4, Informative)
You think the Russians had spies? They're nothing compared to the Chinese.
This is not individual actors out for their own gain, this is a concerted effort over the last 30 years to get China on par with the latest tech, by hook or crook.
While there's nothing wrong with that per-se, the thing that everyone seems to be ignoring is that China is not an open society and all this maneuvering is to get more Geopolitical Power for the Communist Party. A non-representative, totalitarian regime bent on imposing its will across the region and the world. People assume once China is "caught up" they'll follow international rules and "play fair". This is a fairy tale, they are out to dominate.. and will take whatever steps necessary to make sure that happens, economic or military. Their own population is just a tool towards this endgame.
Ever wonder how Pakistan got nukes? China.
Wonder how North Korea got nukes through Pakistan? China made the intro.
That way, their hands were clean but they were able to create a permanent buffer zone on the Korean peninsula and pre-empt any German equivalent of reunification which would put a functioning democracy on their doorstep.
China is playing a dangerous game and people who think prosperity will make them fat and happy are completely mistaken.. the economy is a tool for them both to placate their population and to wield as a weapon on the international stage.
Re:smog (Score:2, Informative)
Re:smog (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Negative on that, sonny (Score:1, Informative)
bitter much? there are lots of companies that just
can't be bothered to try to hire an h-1b. even if they
really do have superior expertise in the subject area.
my company has turned away several in favor of
lesser-qualified americans. nobody wants to deal
with the red tape.