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Dassault claims Siemens violated trade secrets

French software group Dassault Systemes on Thursday accused its German rival Siemens Software of trade secrets violation involving a "protected" list of Dassault's customers.

Dassault claims Siemens violated trade secrets
Did someone have sticky fingers? Photo: DPA

“Dassault Systemes … today confirmed a media report concerning a trade secrets violation by Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software, a competitor of Dassault Systemes,” the French company said.

“After investigation, Siemens admitted having found a list of 3,216 customer names from Germany, Switzerland and Austria” on the internal computer network of its software subsidiary, the statement said.

Dassault Systemes is the world number one producer of the product lifestyle system, a 3D computer programme that presents the life-cycle of a product from manufacture to maintenance.

Questioned by AFP, a Siemens spokesman rejected the charge that the company had violated trade secrets. It confirmed that it had been contacted by the French company in June about the list. He said the list did not necessarily constitute a “trade secret” and insisted that Siemens “respects the trade secrets” of its rival.

Siemens also said it was “astonished” that after discussions, Dassault had gone public with its allegations.

The Dassault statement said Siemens had since returned the list and promised to destroy any copies.

“Dassault Systemes deeply regrets that information obtained illegally could be found on a competitor’s intranet and reserves the right to any action it deems appropriate to enforce its rights.”

BUSINESS

Elon Musk visits Tesla’s sabotage-hit German factory

Elon Musk travelled Wednesday to Tesla's factory near Berlin to lend his workers "support" after the plant was forced to halt production by a suspected arson attack on nearby power lines.

Elon Musk visits Tesla's sabotage-hit German factory

The Tesla CEO addressed thousands of employees on arrival at the site, accusing “eco-terrorists” of the sabotage as he defended his company’s green credentials.

With his son X AE A-XII in his arms, Musk said: “I am here to support you.”

The billionaire’s visit came a week after power lines supplying the electric carmaker’s only European plant were set on fire in an act of sabotage claimed by a far-left group called the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group).

READ ALSO: Far-left group claims ‘sabotage’ on Tesla’s German factory

Musk had said then that the attack was “extremely dumb”, while the company said it would cost it several hundred million euros.

A week on, the lights have come back on at the site, but Andre Thierig, who heads the site, said on LinkedIn that it would “take a bit of time” before production is back to full speed.

Industry experts have warned that the reputational impact caused by the sabotage on the region could be more severe than the losses suffered by Tesla.

Tesla’s German plant started production in 2022 following an arduous two-year approval and construction process dogged by administrative and legal obstacles.

Tesla wants to expand the site by 170 hectares and boost production up to one million vehicles annually to feed Europe’s growing demand for electric cars and take on rivals who are shifting away from combustion engine vehicles.

But the plans have annoyed local residents, who voted against the project in a non-binding ballot last month.

After the vote, Tesla said it might have to rethink the plans. Environmental activists opposed to the expansion of the factory have recently also set up a camp in a wooded area near the plant.

READ ALSO: Why is Tesla’s expansion near Berlin so controversial?

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