Six LG Display workers charged with stealing Samsung tech
According to reports, the employees allegedly stole OLED technology and business secrets to benefit LG Display.
LG Display is under fire after it was revealed yesterday that six employees were charged with stealing technology from Samsung Display.
According to the Associated Press, six of LG Display's workers and accomplices allegedly stole OLED technology between 2010 and 2011. Samsung charges that LG Display also attempted to steal its employees for its own gain.
All told, 11 people were charged in South Korea in connection with the alleged crime, including three people working at Samsung Display.
For its part, LG Display has denied all wrongdoing and told Bloomberg in an e-mailed statement yesterday that the only information at issue is widely known in the display industry and can't be considered trade secrets.
OLED is widely viewed as the next important technology in displays. OLED panels typically create more realistic visuals than those found in other flat-panel technologies, such as LCD and plasma, and give product designers the ability to deliver ultrathin panels. However, the technology is still in its infancy and pushes television prices up dramatically. LG's 55EM9600 OLED television, for example, will ship later this year for $10,000.
CNET has contacted both Samsung and LG Display for comment on the matter. We will update this story when we have more information.