HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, a mid-tier holding company of HD Hyundai (formerly Hyundai Heavy Industries), has been fined for leaking subcontractor's technical data to a competing subcontractor.
The First Division of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice Shin Sook-hee) confirmed on September 12 the lower court's ruling of a fine of 25 million KRW against HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, which was charged with violating the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act.
In addition, two employees involved in the case were also handed fines and suspended sentences.
The case arose between 2015 and 2016, when HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (then Hyundai Heavy Industries), in the midst of financial difficulties, induced competition among subcontractors to reduce costs.
At the time, the company demanded technical data related to piston development from its existing subcontractor, Company A, and then provided it to its competitor, Company B.
As a result, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering successfully lowered the price of Company A's product and eventually switched the entire business to Company B.
A key issue in the case was whether the leaked data constituted “technical data” as defined by the Fair Transactions in Subcontracting Act.
The first and second courts determined that the leaked data were “useful for business activities and had independent economic value,” and recognized that Company A had made considerable efforts to keep the information confidential, qualifying it as "technical data" under the Subcontracting Act.
The Supreme Court agreed with this judgment and dismissed the appeal by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, finalizing the fine.
출처 : 산경투데이 https://www.sankyungtoday.com
https://www.sankyungtoday.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=48804
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Fine Confirmed for Leaking Subcontractor's Technical Data
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, a mid-tier holding company of HD Hyundai (formerly Hyundai Heavy Industries), has been fined for leaking subcontr
www.sankyungtoday.com
