Intel Sues Ex-Engineer For Trying To Steal 3D XPoint Technology On His Way To Micron (theregister.co.uk) 33
Intel has filed a lawsuit last week against one of their former hardware engineers, alleging they tried to steal confidential chip blueprints to potentially pass on to Micron. "The lawsuit [...] is the latest twist in the tale of Intel and Micron's difficult partnership over 3D XPoint memory," reports The Register. From the report: The legal complaint, aimed at former employee Doyle Rivers, alleges that having "secretly" accepted a position at Chipzilla's former bedfellow, Micron, Rivers had a go at taking confidential trade and personnel data with him as he left. Intel alleged that a few days before leaving, "Rivers tried to access and copy a 'top secret' designated Intel file that Intel's electronic security system blocked from being copied."
Chipzilla said the document was related to what it was at pains to say is its "independent" work to productize the 3D XPoint tech into its Optane product line. In other words, blueprints secret to Intel. No one outside Intel, "including Micron" had been privy to such data, the complaint alleged. Intel's security system stopped the file from escaping, but according to the complaint, that did not stop Rivers from allegedly hoovering up a selection of personnel files into a USB device plugged into his computer. The chipmaker also claimed that Rivers "aggressively" recruited his former colleagues to join him on his grand adventure to pastures new. Intel demanded that Rivers return the USB drive, but he apparently "never responded" to them. Instead, "he handed the USB device over to his new employer." It was later discovered by a forensic investigator that it had been wiped. Intel is now demanding "a neutral forensic investigator" be allowed to take a look at Rivers' PC to see what was on there, and when exactly the USB stick was erased. There's a deadline of November 16 for Rivers to agree to this probing.
Chipzilla said the document was related to what it was at pains to say is its "independent" work to productize the 3D XPoint tech into its Optane product line. In other words, blueprints secret to Intel. No one outside Intel, "including Micron" had been privy to such data, the complaint alleged. Intel's security system stopped the file from escaping, but according to the complaint, that did not stop Rivers from allegedly hoovering up a selection of personnel files into a USB device plugged into his computer. The chipmaker also claimed that Rivers "aggressively" recruited his former colleagues to join him on his grand adventure to pastures new. Intel demanded that Rivers return the USB drive, but he apparently "never responded" to them. Instead, "he handed the USB device over to his new employer." It was later discovered by a forensic investigator that it had been wiped. Intel is now demanding "a neutral forensic investigator" be allowed to take a look at Rivers' PC to see what was on there, and when exactly the USB stick was erased. There's a deadline of November 16 for Rivers to agree to this probing.
Deadline of November 16th? (Score:4)
Think an "editor" could give a followup to this?
Re: (Score:1)
I'm pretty sure it was the liberal master-mind Johnny Cash who got a suitcase full of Russians from Clinton Eastwood.
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It's poorly written in the summary. There was a deadline of Nov 16 for him to agree; he didn't; so Intel sued.
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No. "They did it too" is an argument for assholes posting shit in online forums. Courts don't care. Judges are grownups.
Nothing Illegal Happened (Score:3, Interesting)
First of all, at every job I have ever had, I signed something that said I agreed to destroy any confidential information I might find myself in possession of, should my employment come to and end.
His employment came to an end, and he wiped the USB drive, which is probably consistent with whatever employment agreement he signed.
Seldom is "company policy" a signed contract. So if he took files that he wasn't supposed to (but were nevertheless unprotected by any security whatsoever), at worst he violated a company policy and should be disciplined within the scope of his employment (which is moot, since he is no longer employed there).
Re: Nothing Illegal Happened (Score:2)
That may not be completely true. Many types of corporate espionage are illegal. The timing would matter, if he was a Micron employee before he erased the files that's potentially a really big deal.
I'm not familiar enough with the law to know if this would qualify, but Intel probably isn't going to sue if they don't think they have a case.
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His employment came to an end, and he wiped the USB drive, which is probably consistent with whatever employment agreement he signed.
He was notified that the USB drive contained legal evidence. If he wiped it after that notification, he may be guilty of obstruction of justice, which is a crime. That is why they are having a forensic investigator try to determine the date the drive was wiped.
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No, if he wiped it that would be spoliation of evidence, which means that the Court would infer that it proved the things Intel says it proved.
If he obstructed justice, that has nothing to do with Intel's lawsuit, and Intel's lawyers aren't the ones who handle that part.
Don't get so easily distracted by squirrels.
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Many employment contracts forbid people from taking confidential information outside the employer, and many specify septic if financial restitution (usually related to salary or damages) should they do so. I myself have seen police actions against people caught by a corporate DLP system.
The contents of this story are hardly news.
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Err, “specific”, not “septic if”
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And yet, many do specify septic ("oh shit!") if financial restitution and police.
I think you had it right the first time.
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It sure took off on Singles Day in China when Alibaba used it in their datacenters.
I like the "restricted document" part (Score:2)
We won't mention the amount of Company Confidential stuff I had on my home PC, needed to work after hours. I didn't work from home mind you, but it was expected at my level I'd have a VPN RSA key and was expected to use it a few times a week.
Oh, my level? Engineer.
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In any business based on mental work, you need to fully trust your employees. After all, you cannot search and erase their minds when they go home from work. Also, DLP is a mix of wishful thinking and an empty threat. Example: One of our customers has a "fully locked down laptop". You can work remotely with this thing though and you can connect an external monitor, mouse and keyboard. I guess they have never heard of frame-grabbers, HD cameras, old-fashioned pen&paper and MCUs simulating mice and keybo
Micron Press Release (Score:1)
Micron just made this press release:
"We at Micron take the security and quality of our products, data and intellectual property (IP) very seriously. We frankly would have nothing to do with the bug-riddled security shitholes that Intel produce, so even if a new hire were to offer us such documents we wouldn't use them."