The latest crackdown! Hytera was accused by the U.S. Department of Justice of conspiring with former Motorola employees to steal technology

According to Reuters, on February 7, local time, the US government announced that it had filed a criminal lawsuit against Hytera, accusing it of recruiting Motorola employees and stealing digital mobile radio (DMR) technology developed by Motorola.

U.S. Department of Justice Building. Image source: Visual China

In a censored indictment made public in Chicago, the U.S. Justice Department alleges that between 2007 and 2020, Shenzhen-based Hytera Communications recruited Motorola employees in Malaysia to steal proprietary business data about radio, commonly known as "walkie-talkies."

The indictment named Hytera by name, but omitted the names of the other co-defendants in the case, at least some of whom were former Motorola employees who were recruited. The indictment alleges that Hytera recruited the men from 2007 to 2020, offering better wages and benefits than they received in Motorola in exchange for "stealing trade secrets."

Hytera now faces 21 criminal charges, including conspiracy to steal trade secrets, Reuters reported. Hytera and other unidentified defendants have also been accused of possessing or attempting to possess stolen trade secrets. If convicted, Hytera will bear a criminal fine equivalent to three times the value of the stolen trade secret.

In response to the Justice Department's allegations, Hytera's team of lawyers responded in a statement saying the business was "disappointed" with the allegations and "politely rejected them."

Hytera said: "The indictment is intended to describe the activities of former Motorola employees that took place in Malaysia more than a decade ago, and Hytera looks forward to a not guilty plea and presents its claims in court. Hytera stressed that the company is "committed to respecting the intellectual property rights of others."

Reuters pointed out that the criminal prosecution against Hytera is the latest blow to the company in the United States.

In November, in order to strengthen the crackdown on Chinese companies, US President Biden signed the Security Equipment Act of 2021 to prevent companies including Hytera and Huawei, which are considered so-called "security threats" by the US side, from obtaining new equipment licenses from the US Federal Communications Commission, effectively prohibiting these communications companies from entering the US market. Prior to that, during the Trump administration, recipients of U.S. federal government funds were also banned from using hytera-made telecommunications equipment.