FBI: Stealing of Ideas for New Technology Increases

In 2008, United States government officials approved a patent for an electronic device that looks a lot like today's Apple iPhone. The patent gave special legal rights to a group of inventors, including Apple founder¹ Steve Jobs. It barred other people and businesses from making, using or selling the device.

In a few years, other companies were making similar mobile phones. Did they steal the idea? It was legal for those companies to make a similar product, as long as it was not exactly the same. But they had to solve for themselves how to make it.

New ideas for technology are a kind of intellectual property – the product of a person's mind. Inventors are worried more these days about new ways that others can learn about how their inventions work.

One place where new products are demonstrated is at conferences where people from around the world are gathered, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation² (FBI) notes.

CES 2020

Every January, CES, once called the Consumer Electronics Show, is held in Las Vegas, Nevada. More than 175,000 people attended the event this year.

David Eagleman is a neuroscientist who teaches at Stanford University in California. He co-founded a company that created a wristband to help those who have trouble hearing. The wristband sends signals through their skin.

Many years of research led to production of the device, so Eagleman wanted to protect it well globally.

"We have all the underlying³ technology patented, so we're not terribly worried about patent theft. ... This is a group of 170,000 smart people, and so it's something that we just have to watch out for..."

The FBI's Aaron Rouse notes:

"It does happen from time to time where a piece of product may go missing or somebody has noticed when they get back to their factory that there has been a piece of software that's been installed onto one of their systems."

Rouse is special agent in charge of the FBI's Las Vegas division.

FBI catches lawbreakers

The FBI and federal government lawyers say they have a long list of cases of stolen trade secrets from just the past year. They include a North Carolina man who stole trade secrets from aircraft companies.

There are many different groups that want stolen technology.

(They) "could be a criminal organization, could be a foreign intelligence service, could be a competitor," Aaron Rouse said.

More than 4,000 companies demonstrated products and services at CES 2020. People from more than 160 countries attended the event.

Rouse noted⁴ that it is important to watch everyone who touches the technology carefully.

"During the time of the convention, who's handling your equipment? Who is handling your product. And, do they have access or the capability⁵ of installing malware onto that product at that time?"

Technology continues be reach more into everyday activities, and a lot of information is shared over the internet. The FBI warns that the growing rate of intellectual property theft can cost companies billions of dollars.

Words in This Story

theft – n. the act of stealing something

mobile – adj. able to be moved; changeable in purpose

software – n. programs for a computer

install – v. to make (a machine, a service or software programs) ready to be used in a certain place

malware – n. a computer program that is designed to damage or break into a computer

1 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。