Former Samsung Manager Says He Leaked iPad Screen Shipment Data

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Samsung-Galaxy-Tab

The long-running dispute between Apple and Samsung has erupted again, this time in an unrelated insider-trading trial. The former manager of Samsung’s U.S. division told a New York City court he leaked shipment data of LCD screens destined for the iPad to a Calif. financial analyst.


Suk-Joo Hwang, a 14-year veteran of Samsung, testified he met with a Primary Global Research hedge fund manager in December 2009. The Mountain View, Calif. meeting was held just four months before the iPad – then still an unnamed device – was officially unveiled. “I talked to them about the tablet shipment estimates in that meeting,” reports Bloomberg, citing Wednesday’s federal court testimony.

During the restaurant meeting, the former Samsung manager was “freaked out, ” worried a nearby diner who was staring at him had been an Apple employee. Although he hid his Samsung badge, he later learned an Apple supply contract was cut.

Hwang was fired by Samsung in June 2011, according to the report.

Apple has claimed Samsung’s Tab closely resembles the iPad. The Cupertino, Calif. tech giant has sued the South Korean manufacturer in a number of courts, ranging from Germany to Japan. So far, Samsung has lost a case in Germany and is withholding its tablet from the Australian market until a judge there makes a decision later this month. Wednesday, the company fired back, filing suit against Apple in a French court.

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