Hytera pleads guilty to conspiring to steal tech from Motorola

Chinese telecommunications company Hytera Communications Corporation Limited has admitted to a US federal court that it conspired to steal digital mobile radio (DMR) technology developed by Illinois-based Motorola Solutions, Inc. As stated in a plea agreement that was entered this week, Hytera, through the acts of individuals acting to benefit the company, knowingly conspired to steal at least one trade secret from Motorola.

In 2008, the individuals in question agreed to take documents and source code related to Motorola’s DMR technology, and then used some of that information to develop Hytera products. Hytera stated in the plea agreement that the individuals knew and/or reasonably believed that some of the information they agreed to steal was reasonably protected and kept secret by Motorola, and that taking at least one trade secret would potentially injure Motorola.

In 2021, the US Department of Justice filed felony charges against Hytera and seven of its employees, including former executive Gee Siong Kok. The federal grand jury indictment included 21 counts of federal criminal trade secret violations, including engaging in a decade-long criminal conspiracy to steal and use Motorola Solutions’ trade secrets and proprietary information. Kok pled guilty in 2023 and is awaiting sentencing; the other six Hytera employees are currently at large.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Hytera may be fined up to US$60 million, which is significantly less than the fine range of US$453.78 million to US$907.56 million that the US Department of Justice cited in its sentencing-guidelines calculations. Hytera must also make full restitution to Motorola, in an amount to be determined by the Court upon sentencing on 6 November 2025.

“Hytera’s admission of guilt in federal court validates the extensive evidence that it is a bad actor and felon, and we remain firmly resolute to holding Hytera accountable for its egregious illegal conduct,” said Greg Brown, Chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions. “I appreciate the Department of Justice for its diligence in pursuing this matter.”

Hytera’s guilty plea does not resolve Motorola Solutions’ ongoing civil litigation against the company. As a result, Motorola is continuing to pursue collection of the more than US$471 million judgement already awarded to it in its trade secret and copyright infringement litigation against Hytera in the United States, as well as injunctive and other relief to address Hytera’s misconduct.

Image credit: iStock.com/bobmadbob