The US government has accused Huawei Technologies of systematic industrial espionage over the past two decades. According to the investigation, the company operated a 'competition management group' that rewarded employees for illegally obtaining valuable information about competitors.
The prosecution's evidence includes a specific incident from 2013, when a Huawei employee allegedly stole a robotic arm from a T-Mobile laboratory. The employee is said to have photographed and measured the device before returning it at the T-Mobile's request.
Huawei denies the allegations, calling the US justice system biased and the accusations a tool for pressure in the trade war with China. The company emphasizes its commitment to intellectual property and its position as one of the top six global R&D investors for nine consecutive years.
The legal proceedings in New York could last for months. If found guilty, Huawei faces fines that could be double the amount of of the estimated damages, as well as potential seizures of its accounts in foreign banks.
