Former Bridgestone researcher arrested for alleged trade secrets theft

ERJ staff report (DS)

Cleveland, Ohio -- A former researcher for Bridgestone Americas has been arrested on suspicion of theft of trade secrets and making false statements, according to a criminal complaint filed with the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Xiaorong Wang, 50, was scheduled to appear before the district court yesterday.

According to the court affidavit, Bridgestone fired Mr. Wang in April 2010 for sending inappropriate emails to colleagues. The same day he was terminated, Wang allegedly spent several hours in Bridgestone's Akron media room, burning CDs of computer files containing sensitive and proprietary information.

One of the CDs contained a power point presentation on new developments in racing tyre polymers, the affidavit said. Others contained production formulations for micelle polymers, an analytical study of strain-induced crystallisation and a power point presentation on the development of guayule polymers, it said.

When questioned by agents of the FBI in March 2012, Wang said he burned nine CDs' worth of material that day but took home only three CDs that contained pictures of his family. In fact, the affidavit said, he took home all nine CDs, including six that contained Bridgestone research information.

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Tire Business (A Crain publication)