IP: German fears on industrial espionage

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Financial Times, 14 Nov. 1996




Germany's top prosecutor has warned companies they must
tighten security precautions in the face of industrial espionage
from Russia and eastern Europe which is costing them billions of dollars
a year. Federal Prosecutor Kay Nehm said the end of the Cold War had
reduced military and political tension between east and west but foreign
intelligence services were more active than ever in trying to steal
secrets from German companies. He said many foreign intelligence
services were concentrating on industrial espionage to justify their
continued existence as it offered considerable financial rewards. He singled
out Russia as an example.