Three Foxconn Employees Charged With Leaking iPad 2 Design

[MacRumors]

DigiTimes reports on an article [Google translation] from Chinese site sznews.com claiming that three Foxconn employees have been charged with leaking the design of the iPad 2 to accessory manufacturers well ahead of the device's launch.

Several online shopping retailers in China were able to sell iPad 2's protective case products before the iPad 2 was even launched, leading Foxconn to suspect that there might have been some employees leaking the design of iPad 2 which it reported to the local police.

The local police on December 26, 2010, arrested three employees that were suspected of leaking the design, and officially charged the three employees for violating the company's trade secrets on March 23, 2011, the reported added.

Cases for the second-generation iPad began appearing in early December, four months ahead of Apple's official unveiling in early March. Details on some of the physical changes in the new models, such as a larger speaker opening were detailed by late December, although not all of the features accommodated by the second-generation cases were positively identified until the device's introduction.

Article Link: Three Foxconn Employees Charged With Leaking iPad 2 Design

[unlimitedx]

shouldn't have done that!

[dazzer21]

So what happens when the might of Apple comes crashing down on you - public execution at dawn?!

[JAT]

Originally Posted by dazzer21

So what happens when the might of Apple comes crashing down on you - public execution at dawn?!

I would assume the execution has already happened. That's what the fandroids would tell us. They're always right, you know.

[HitchHykr]

At least the 3 didn't commit "suicide"...

[ma5ter5]

wow, insane that they were finally charged 3 months after being arrested...

[smokestack]

too bad 3 people will have to die in a chinese jail to protect apple's trade secrets (or rather, secrets that were intended to be revealed a few months later)

[RawBert]

I wonder how much these dudes got paid for the leaks. However much, it wasn't worth it.

[tinman0]

Originally Posted by smokestack

too bad 3 people will have to die in a chinese jail to protect apple's trade secrets (or rather, secrets that were intended to be revealed a few months later)

Yeah, fancy that, a nation that still believes in crime and punishment.

"Can't do the time? Don't do the crime".

[outlawarth]

Arrested. Not just terminated or fired. ARRESTED. Anyone hoping to catch a leak of next iPhone can keep on dreaming. This only proves that all the speculation from "trusted sources" is a bunch of c**p. Apple has gotten even more secretive and they're serious about it.

[SBlue1]

hey, they didnt know what intellectual property is. after all this is china, the land of the copycats.

[C00rDiNaT0r]

Since it's hard to find out who the employees can leak prototype info to, Apple/Foxconn will have to sue for an amount significantly higher than the "commission" those third-party manufacturers can afford, so nobody would ever attempt this again.

[bdkennedy1]

If you don't like the rules of your job, then quit. Otherwise suffer the consequences.

Originally Posted by smokestack

too bad 3 people will have to die in a chinese jail to protect apple's trade secrets (or rather, secrets that were intended to be revealed a few months later)

[MH01]

Geez it must be fun being an Apple employee. Everytime I go to the Apple store it really does seem like such a fun place to work .

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by HitchHykr

At least the 3 didn't commit "suicide"...

And yet they still might. The culture there is very honor bound. It can great a lot of stress. Especially if you just lost the job that is supporting your family out in the country, have been publicly humiliated and probably blacklisted from similar jobs.

As for Foxconn having them arrested, I'm not surprised. They risk losing their contracts with more than just Apple if it is implied that they condone this behavior. So they have to come out against it even if they really aren't

[C00rDiNaT0r]

Originally Posted by RawBert

I wonder how much these dudes got paid for the leaks. However much, it wasn't worth it.

One way to look at it, if it was a high amount, say, $1m, would you rather your family be rich off the commission you got while you're in jail, or be poor with them outside?

[kirk26]

Sadly, since this is in China they might be put to death.

[MH01]

Originally Posted by bdkennedy1

If you don't like the rules of your job, then quit. Otherwise suffer the consequences.

Oww that's so cute, you actually believe that all those workers in china that work for Apple are there by choice and can just quit and get another job somewhere else. Trust me you would not work in thier conditions.

[jc1350]

I'm sure the Chinese authorities won't go overboard with the punishment. After all, China, Syria and Iran are the epitome of "human rights."

BTW -- anyone want to buy a bridge in NY? Great location, fantastic price!

[BlindMellon]

concidering this is china, i expect the death penalty.

funny, too, that i still can't find decent ipad 2 cases.

[andiwm2003]

Originally Posted by C00rDiNaT0r

One way to look at it, if it was a high amount, say, $1m, would you rather your family be rich off the commission you got while you're in jail, or be poor with them outside?

there will be about 40 mion iPad2's in total. At most 1 Mio of them will buy a case from the companies who got the specs early. Only a fraction of that will be due to the early information. Those cases sell for $20 a piece or so. So the entire value of the leak is far less than $5 Mio. No way that the employees got paid more than a few thousand bucks for the leak.

I hope the chinese justice system shows some perspective and doesn't ruin their lives. Yes it's a crime but it's not that they sold drugs to school children.......

[Mattie Num Nums]

Originally Posted by JAT

I would assume the execution has already happened. That's what the fandroids would tell us. They're always right, you know.

This is why every article turns into a fight. Why fling mud for no reason.

[tinman0]

Originally Posted by MH01

Oww that's so cute, you actually believe that all those workers in china that work for Apple are there by choice and can just quit and get another job somewhere else. Trust me you would not work in thier conditions.

And that somehow excuses their actions?

[C00rDiNaT0r]

Originally Posted by jc1350

I'm sure the Chinese authorities won't go overboard with the punishment. After all, China, Syria and Iran are the epitome of "human rights."

BTW -- anyone want to buy a bridge in NY? Great location, fantastic price!

They don't have to actually kill those guys, just charge them for a high penalty and they will kill themselves to keep that cash if they can't run away..

[ten-oak-druid]

Originally Posted by dazzer21

So what happens when the might of Apple comes crashing down on you - public execution at dawn?!

Are you suggesting they will get the electric tablet?