A federal opinion has been released in the case of SK Innovation, a Korean auto battery manufacturer with a large facility in Jackson County, which has been accused of stealing trade secrets from a competitor.
Last month, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled the South Korean Company was guilty of stealing ideas from a competitor. On Thursday, the agency released a 95-page opinion, outlining the seriousness of the situation.
According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the opinion calls SK's actions “extraordinary," claiming the company destroyed evidence to keep investigators from finding out they had stolen trade secrets. According to the findings, the level of deception was carried out by department heads throughout SK.
The battery manufacturer was accused of stealing secrets from competitor LG Chemical, LTD, which produces lithium-ion batteries. LG brought accusations against SK in 2019.
Governor Brian Kemp was lobbying President Joe Biden to overturn the decision issued by the ITC, noting the significant impact SK has on the economy in the region. Kemp said that the ruling threatens thousands of potential jobs.
It’s reported that officials with both SK and LG met with the Biden administration last week.
