OPPO Responds to Apple's Trade Secrets Lawsuit

Apple on Thursday filed a lawsuit against its former employee Chen Shi, as well as the companies OPPO and InnoPeak Technology, over alleged trade secret misappropriation. Apple alleges that Shi "conspired to steal Apple's trade secrets relating to Apple Watch and to disclose them to his new employers, OPPO and InnoPeak."

Apple Watch Series 10 Jet Black
OPPO is a Chinese company that sells smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other devices, while California-based InnoPeak Technology says it "performs cutting-edge research in smartphone technologies."

A spokesperson for OPPO has since shared the following statement with MacRumors:

We are aware of the recent lawsuit filed by Apple in California and have carefully reviewed the allegations in Apple's complaint. We have found no evidence establishing any connection between these allegations and the employee's conduct during his employment at OPPO.

OPPO respects the trade secrets of all companies, including Apple, and OPPO has not misappropriated Apple's trade secrets. OPPO will actively cooperate with the legal process, and we are confident that fair judicial proceedings will clarify the facts.

Read our previous coverage of the lawsuit for more details.

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Top Rated Comments

25 weeks ago
Stop hiring Chinese nationals. It's become such a huge problem across the defense industry, technology corporations, and countless other examples. American universities welcome Chinese students (and revenue from the CCP) with open arms, only for them to absorb and frequently steal as much intellectual property as they can get their hands on and flee back to China. It's ridiculous. Time to stop rolling out the red carpet for these people.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
25 weeks ago

Like Apple in general do this without any evidence
Did you even bother to read the previous article or the lawsuit summary before posting? Apple claims that Shi downloaded confidential documents to a USB drive and promised to provide material to a competitor. Or are you simply believing their denial, which any company would do in this situation?
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Student of Life Avatar
25 weeks ago

Stop hiring Chinese nationals. It's become such a huge problem across the defense industry, technology corporations, and countless other examples. American universities welcome Chinese students (and revenue from the CCP) with open arms, only for them to absorb and frequently steal as much intellectual property as they can get their hands on and flee back to China. It's ridiculous. Time to stop rolling out the red carpet for these people.
It’s a systemic issue on so many levels that got us to this point. Universities profit from foreigners because they pay full price for tuition even in state schools. For instance a highly educated and intelligent America child will more likely than not go into law or medicine and never give the defense industry consideration. Corporations love to hire foreigns because they can under pay them compared to the American counterparts. That’s not even touching our in general abandonment of education in a culturally level vs China embracing it. It’s frustrating when looking at the big picture and realizing there is no simple solution.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
25 weeks ago
Lol. Suuuuure Oppo! We believe you!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
25 weeks ago
I'm just glad Apple doesn't use IP from other companies without the rights to do so.

Oh wait ...

Careful throwing stones in the liquid glass house.



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Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
25 weeks ago

What I find amazing, and a bit amusing, is that this Shi fellow possibly did not know, or understand, that all his actions on the corporate net are monitored and stored. Now, maybe he knew, did not care, and figured he would be long gone by the time Apple found out. Who knows? However, I would almost think that in the future, whenever an employee gives notice to leave, Apple will immediately review all of their keyboard activity. A bit surprised they don't do that already.

As for OPPO's response, that is the lawyer speaking. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I expect OPPO will distance itself from Shi, possibly end his employment, and throw him to the wolves. OPPO could quietly approach Apple, issue a mea culpa, terminate Shi, and license the technology. No harm, no foul. Mostly.

If OPPO brings to market any tech that vaguely looks 'Apple', Apple will be on them in a heartbeat.
I see you're not fully aware of how the CCP IP theft policy works or how they treat their own. Shi was there only a short time, so it's likely he was primed for that position just to do what is alleged. You can bet that he will never be seen or heard from again. He has done his job, they have the IP so he is dispensable, but they'll never turn him over. They laugh at IP lawsuits because there's no consequences on the international stage for anything they do.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)