Yu's case shows China lacks experience in dealing with IP issues

Published: 21 Oct 2009 21:46:10 PST

Former Ford engineer Xiang Dong Yu, also known as Mike Yu, was arrested last week at the Chicago O'Hare airport and indicted on suspicion of stealing trade secrets from his former employer.

Yu, who worked at Ford Motor Company from 1997 to 2007 , joined Beijing Auto's research and development division to work on computer-aided engineering and automotive body design in November last year on a three-year contract. Yu has become the first to be arrested by such accusation in Chinese Auto history.

Actually at the infancy stage of the Chinese auto industry, several local carmakers like Geely and Shuanghuan were suspected by intellectual property right accusations. But in 10 years’ of dealings with them, considering the future market share, multinational auto giants settled down to compromise.

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