Former HP exec pleads guilty to stealing IBM trade secrets
By Nilay Patel 
posted July 11th 2008 9:15PM
posted July 11th 2008 9:15PM
Well, that didn't take long. Atul Malhotra, the HP executive charged with stealing printer market data when he left IBM and sending it to his new colleagues at HP with the genius-level subject line "For Your Eyes Only," has pled guilty to one count of theft of trade secrets. Malhotra probably made the right choice -- he specifically requested the information just before he left IBM and HP itself investigated and turned him in when he was found sending it around, so the case against him was pretty airtight. It's not clear what his plea deal is, but sentencing is scheduled for October 29, and he can get up to 10 years in the clink with a fine of up to a quarter-million dollars. Crime don't pay, kids.
especially if you aren't making any money off the deal. dummy.
Sad world where the time served for murder is shorter than time served for stealing business information.
As an executive, the sad part is if he gets fired from Hewlett Packard or already has as a result of it, there's probably a severance package in his executive contract for over $250k. Soemtimes those can reach $3-5 million like Meg Whitman's for eBay.
HP: "That's it! Your fired!"
Exec: "Yesss, I can get my third Tesla Roadster and pay off that small goverment fine of up to $250k."
Sad part is, this guy isn't the dummy per say since his crime really has likely paid.
Microsoft would never have turned you in friend.
Cool
Thats good that he got caught, but 1/4 million dollars doesn't sound that much for the potential damage he could have done to IBM or profit he could have made himself. Good that HP turned him in themselves though.
Notice how Apple never lets trade secrets get stolen... IBM should take a page from them!
You're an idiot. did you even READ the damn article? The guy worked for IBM, got the SEKRETZ, quit and went to HP, then told people at HP.
...stupid apple fanboy.
i dont know about you but that GUI was such a neat idea...
Microsoft
I have a vague recollection of a lawsuit a few years back about trade secrets and Apple.
Uff, talk about a direct hit to your HP.
omg i di'int
yu-uh
nu-uh
dBoss iNc.
Damn!!!...well he can never scold his kids about stealing or cheating without hurting his pride anymore.
but seriously how could he get caught so easily....after working for so long with IBM, he still could T-H-I-N-K properly and forgot that his computer was personal again to hide the secrets :)
Its a good thing this happened when it did. Otherwise the Pacilion 7000 series would have bright red thumbpads between [g] and [h]
A similar thing happened with The Hamburglar.
Maybe it's just me not understanding the way things are done or what these "secrets" are, but what exactly is "printer market data" and how can it be so devastating to IBM or helpful to HP? In my mind, I'm thinking its just how many of each model were sold in what areas... Can someone please help me understand better? Thanks!
Most likely it was info on top customers, what they were paying for equipment, etc. At the macro level the data would not be particularly useful, but if you could drill down to customer level data, it would allow HP to undercut IBM in the market.
The great thing for HP is that they got to keep the data (you think they didn't look before turning him in?) *and* pin the misdeed on some chump so they don't get sued.
If you just remember that corporations will always act in their own best interest, you'll be OK.
It's kinda funny how in the last article they call him VP and in this one they call him exec...