When people hear the term “espionage,” they usually think of one government sending a spy to another country to uncover military or government secrets. However, corporate espionage is not necessarily that exciting or riddled with danger. Corporate espionage (also known as industrial espionage or economic espionage) is the secretive and in most cases illegal practice of investigating competing companies in order to gain an advantage over them in business. The target might be a trade secret like a formula exclusive to that company; product specification, or plans for that business. Being charged with corporate espionage is a serious offense with serious repercussions.
If you are accused of corporate espionage you are facing an uphill battle that can be difficult to win without the right representation. Okabe & Haushalter has a trusted name for defending clients who face heavy consequences due to accusations or charges of corporate espionage. We are at the top of our game and will fight doggedly to make sure we walk away with favorable results. Don’t leave your fate in the hands of anyone else. Contact us and let one of our professional corporate espionage defense attorneys devise a plan of attack.
In 2000, Larry Ellison, the head of Oracle, wanted to reveal its rival Microsoft’s funding of certain special interest groups. Oracle hired an investigative agency called Investigative Group International to do the digging. In the process, the agency allegedly bribed cleaning staff to get their hands on important documents. They also offered to buy the office trash of a pro-Microsoft advocacy group in hopes of uncovering any financial links between the company and independent allies. Other investigative groups agreed that although poor ethics did come into play, no legal lines had been crossed.
In 1997, while working a product design contract for Gillette via Wright Industries, engineer Steven Louis Davis faxed and emailed drawings of Gillette’s newest razor designs to some of its rival companies. As the transmissions weren’t secure, when caught, Davis pled guilty to theft and fraud. In 1998 he was sentenced to 27 months in prison. He admitted he stole the information because he was angry with this boss. As severe as his crime was, Davis’ corporate espionage defense attorney did what he could to make sure his client did not spend a lifetime behind bars. Our corporate espionage defense attorneys at Okabe & Haushalter work just as diligently, or even more so to make sure you get the best representation possible for the situation you are in.
If you find yourself staring down the barrel of the lengthy sentence because of corporate espionage charges, contact us at Okabe & Haushalter immediately. Our attorneys are some of the best in the business as we handle high-profile cases and get excellent results for our clients. Give us a call today for a consultation and let us put together a concrete defense that cannot be busted. The longer you wait, the more detrimental it can be to your case. Let us put you on the path to being a winner and walking away with little to no damage.