Huawei Chip Theft Case Verdict Now Final

A Shanghai court has stated that the convictions of 14 people involved in the theft of trade secrets related to chip technology developed by Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon have taken effect, in a ruling that underscores China's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights.

The IPR procuratorial department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Wednesday that the first-instance verdict, which it guided and was handled by a Shanghai prosecuting authority, became effective after the defendants chose not to appeal within the 10-day period. The verdict was announced July 28.

The case involved the illegal acquisition of Wi-Fi chip technology valued at about 317 million yuan ($44 million). The technology was considered crucial to Huawei's competitive edge in the high-tech sector.