Court date set for ex-Bridgestone researcher

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Cleveland, Ohio -- A jury trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 24 in Cleveland federal district court against an ex-Bridgestone researcher accused of stealing trade secrets from his former employer.

Xiaorong Wang was indicted Aug. 14 on eight counts of theft of trade secrets and seven counts of making false statements to federal investigators.

Among the thefts Wang allegedly committed were of secrets involving a bulk polymerisation process, a method of manufacturing mono/bi-functional polymers, a masterbatch process for silica-filled compounds, production formulations for racing and high-performance tyres, and a method for compounding guayule rubber.

Wang, a senior scientist and project leader at Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology in Akron, was fired April 2010 for allegedly sending abusive emails to a company colleague in Japan.

A few days later, Wang burned computer files onto compact discs that contained confidential and proprietary research information, according to a March 2012 affidavit sworn by an agent with the Cleveland office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI agent said in the affidavit that, when questioned, Wang said he had only copied family photos and other personal items. The agent also said Wang lied about corresponding with officials at Suzhou University in China to accept a position there.

The court scheduled a pretrial conference for Sept. 20.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)