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US Steel Says China Is Using Cyber Stealth To Steal Its Secrets (npr.org)

An anonymous reader writes: U.S. Steel Corp. filed a trade complaint with the International Trade Commission: "The Chinese industry has formed a cartel that sets purchase and sale prices, and controls production and export volumes to target export markets. The Chinese industry has used its government to steal U.S. Steel's closely guarded trade secrets and uses those trade secrets to produce advanced steel products it could not make on its own." The steelmaker based in Pittsburgh argues its Chinese rivals must be investigated and that they will "use every tool available to fight for fair trade." The ITC has 30 days to review the complaint and determine whether or not it's worth investigating. In the meantime, China's Commerce Ministry said the complaints "have no factual basis," urging the ITC to reject U.S. Steel's case. The investigation will likely take a while if the ITC decides to proceed with an investigation, as they'll be dealing with three separate issues: price fixing, false labeling to avoid duties, and theft of trade secrets.

107 comments

  1. Pick one by axewolf · · Score: 1

    Fair trade
    or
    Trade secrets
    Pick one.

  2. obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by sittingnut · · Score: 3, Interesting

    usa imposed 266% duty on chinese steel imports in march.
    http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-...

    seems that failed to help push overpriced bad products

    1. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by axewolf · · Score: 1

      Hahaha wow, that seems like kind of a key detail to the situation.

    2. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by inode_buddha · · Score: 2

      ... and thats not NEARLY enough by an order of magnitude. (disclaimer: I have been in the biz for 25 yrs, and the chinese stuff is the worst...)

      --
      C|N>K
    3. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 1

      Wow, their steel is worse than their plastic?

    4. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by canuck57 · · Score: 0

      Bingo. Its about over paid executives, employment costs, cost of living with $9 trillion more ObamaDebt, more ClintonDebt a coming. Obama care, local utility, steel, supply costs... combined with poor costly designs.

      Clinton is clueless glass house career government does not have the solution, nether does Sanders. Trump is only half right, Chinese are more efficient, economical and include value as part of quality. They are lean, efficient and effective. Something America once had and lost. With debt inflating the economy, Americans can't compete. And its not the workers fault, its the corruption of government thinking debt is free. Its not, just how and who pays for it. $19 trillion of virtual worthless money drives up costs.

      Trump is right in that Americans paying 70% for NATO, feeding a ever increasing government bloat, wasteful wars with a WW II mentality, sending money to nations like Pakistan, Ukraine to feed corruption and in Pakistan case, unlike Iran, they reall do have nkes. But few will ask corruption politicians about political posturing that makes no sense. Ruin countries like Syria, trying to overthrow ELECTED Assad, while funneling defense support to dictator Saudi. Wake up people, ISIS butchers are carrying Obama/Hillary purchased weapons!!!

      And you pay in debt, taxes, dysfunctional government. And why I like Trump. Trump will shake it up. As Wall Street buys politicians and look the next step and see who the big depositors are...dare ya.

      As a Canadian too, you do not tax much on Canadian beef heading to the USA. But up to 234% taxes and fees on American beef going north. What a crappy deal Clinton and lobby driven politics gave America. Pretty one sided right? Gets worse too, INS gives green cards to illegals easier than the lawyer legal method for Canadians, but that another story.

      Political correctness is double talk for political corruption. This is a lot more complex than "blame the Chinese" mentality. Protectionism is really a tax on people trying to compete. If an office costs 5 times as much, makes your companies less competative. Someone let it happen. And to borrow from Einstein...

      Insanity: Voting the same way for the same idiots a lying, expecting better results.

    5. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      No amount will really do anything to maintain US market share. There's no escaping the fact that it's a global economy, no matter how you try to implement mercantilism. Sure, you might stop US customers from buying, but even though you raise the price in the US, there's nothing stopping say Russia or Japan from buying their steel. The only way you can do anything about dumping is through diplomacy, and by that I mean treaty organizations that provide sanctions that not just the US follows. As you can see, they really don't give a shit about US sanctions alone.

    6. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      usa imposed 266% duty on chinese steel imports in march.

      These sorts of tariffs tend to be counter-productive. America has way more users of steel than producers of steel. So this will raise costs for American car companies, appliance manufacturers, and everyone else that builds stuff out of steel, making their products less competitive. So instead of importing Chinese steel, we will import more cars, and finished goods.

    7. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      that just pushes more manufacturing to china or countries without an import tariff.

    8. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But American steel is second-worst and it is not much cheaper than high-quality steel from Japan and Europe, because American steel producers have barely invested since the 1970s steel crises. Their manufacturing is inefficient and outdated. If it weren't for government intervention to their advantage, they would have been bankrupt for a long time now.

    9. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reagandebt? Bushdebt? Clinton 1st actually reduced the debt. Bushdebt II? Yeah, welcome to the facts.

      AC

    10. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Satan as president would shake things up, too.

      That doesn't mean people should vote for him.

      Trump is just as shady as the rest but he's also quite plainly a misogynistic narcissist who wants to become president to feed his own ego.

      And I'm not pulling the shady bit out of my ass. Look up media reports (ok, yes, vanity fair isn't the best source) of Trump from the 80s/90s when he was doing deals, through the notorious lawyers Roy Cohn and Stanley Friedman, with corrupt judges to get his way in New York real estate.

      He and his policies would be a disaster for modern diplomacy. Even if he were an economic boon, which I doubt, that wouldn't matter much if he fucks up foreign relations and what little world peace there is.
      Thanks but Bush's administration already did enough damage there and Bush wasn't even a rude person.

      All political correctness means is doubletalk for not offending anyone. Being politically correct has nothing to do with corruption.
      It mainly has to do with being polite and respectable, though we obviously use it ironically because politicians seem to have issues with telling the bald truth.
      Trump isn't politically correct but he's not going to tell the bald truth either. He's many things but he's obviously not an idiot.

      I'm not a fan of any of the candidates (even Bernie, as his pleas are too emotional/populist) but how on earth can you like Trump? Even if you, somehow, think he might be a good candidate... how can you like him as a person?

      And the cliche "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results"? Yeah, that's not actually the definition of insanity. And never was. It's just a cute way to poke fun at people.

    11. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by TheRealHocusLocus · · Score: 2

      Well it sure isn't helping that Obama is trying to bankrupt US coal producers whose financial health directly impacts US steel production. In the place of a real presidential cabinet where things are weighed with all factors and research is done before taking a position... we have had the Department Of CO2 Is Evil And Fuck Everything Else calling the shots. I would go so far as to assume these 'save de planet coal haters' did not even know that coal is a critical precursor to steel production, which is a keystone of domestic manufacture. It was probably on page 3 of the memo.

      And Hillary also thinks that intermittent energy can replace constant coal in electricity production.
      March of the stupids.
      We have met the enemy and he (and she!) is within U.S.

      --
      <blink>down the rabbit hole</blink>
    12. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by DarkOx · · Score: 1

      no matter how you try to implement mercantilism. Sure, you might stop US customers from buying, but even though you raise the price in the US, there's nothing stopping say Russia or Japan from buying their steel.

      Nonsense there might not be much you can do about Russia but you can certainly put back the old East-West first world second world system. Its easy as telling our security umbrella clients you WILL participate in our trade embargos or we WON'T provide the military protection when you require it.

      "Hey Japan it would be a shame if we just let the Chinese do whatever they wanted in the South China Sea."

      Mercantilism certainly did work in the past and it certainly could work again.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
    13. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by gweihir · · Score: 1

      If their stuff is so bad, why are they a threat at all? Why are artificial measures needed to make their stuff more expensive?

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    14. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      The only way you can do anything about dumping is through diplomacy

      If "dumping" were a real thing, we should be grateful for it: we are getting a valuable commodity subsidized by the Chinese government.

    15. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you support H-1B visas?

      The problem with dumping isn't that is provides a cheap product, it is that once the local industry is destroyed and there are no longer alternatives, the dumper jacks the price up.

    16. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "America has way more users of steel than producers of steel" You do know this condition is true for every country at the top of the world economy? Or are you under the impression that every car manufacturer and construction company has their own exclusive steel foundries? China has an impressive economy because of the US bending over backwards to accommodate them. A mind set first formed in the early 70's because the US saw the easiest way to shake up China's communist system was the successful implementation of a market economy. And it worked without one bomb or missile being used! China is no more communist than the US. It's leadership looks and behaves more like corporation board members whose number one priority is to become wealthy. Really! How does a communist government end up being run by some of the richest people on the planet? Of course this has also been true in Russia, Cuba, and every other country who like to present themselves as Communist or liberal Socialists. At least the leadership in the US is honest about their accumulation of wealth.

    17. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by gtall · · Score: 1

      The price of natural gas is what is fucking American coal miners. And talk to the people of Norfolk, Va. or Rhode Island about rising sea levels due to CO2. Countries are now tripping over themselves to use the new and improved Northern sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific. Even China is getting into the act.

      Even if you don't believe in global warming, look at the coral reefs bleaching because CO2 is making the oceans acidic. This is the base of the food chain. If you think coal miners have problems now, wait another 20-30 years.

    18. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by gtall · · Score: 1

      Trump is mostly all wrong. NATO is cheap to afford and without it, the U.S. will be paying much more for defense as it must then go it alone.

      Trump has no solutions, at least he hasn't fielded any. Saying he'll shake things up is not a policy nor a solution. Acting like bull in a china shop will damage the U.S. The things he thinks are true will be damaging if he could ever get them past Congress, which he won't since the Dems will probably take the Senate.

      The rest of your post is simply nonsensical raving. It is what I'd expect out of someone who thinks Trump is a good idea.

    19. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by imboboage0 · · Score: 1

      Also worked in the industry, yes, it's badddd. Way bad. Their plastic is arguably good compared to the shit I keep snapping om german cars...

      --
      Honesty may be the best policy, but by process of elimination, dishonesty is the second best policy.
    20. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you manage to snap plastics on a German car?

    21. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not anymore with this new secret sauce.

    22. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. Talk about crazy biases in the news you read. Only about 7% of coal is used to make steel. We could bankrupt a majority of the coal producers and still have plenty of coal to make steel. Only in your twisted little head is anyone trying to eliminate all coal production.

    23. Re:obviously 266% duties imposed in march failed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like Trump too. And the efforts the overlords are taking to try to stop Trump just proves how on point he is.

  3. Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sure China likes to commit industrial espionage. Everyone know that. However, when are corporations (individuals) going to stop hiding behind laws--in the hopes that they will save them--and start taking responsibility for their own security? When in the history of the world has a law stopped a sufficiently motivated criminal?

    --
    Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
    1. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by axewolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You say that like american business didn't invent modern industrial espionage. Did you miss WW2?

    2. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 1

      I've got a hunch China, et al. aren't leaving the key under the mat for the US...

      --
      Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
    3. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've had roughly 100 servers running multiple heavily used servers sitting bare assed to the internet for over 15 years.
      Not a single one of them has ever been compromised.
      I'm a good admin, keep my stuff up to date, and I don't run packet filters.
      It's not that hard.
      The problem with American corporate and government and personal compute
      is that they're simply stupid and lazy and cheap.
      Bad policies, bad investment, bad people, and terrible management at all levels.

      China is NOT to blame, the computer owners are.

    4. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The same has been said about victims of every crime. Expecting progress towards security is a non-starter.

      Sure psychopaths rape people. Everyone know that. However, when are individuals going to stop hiding behind laws--in the hopes that they will save them--and start taking responsibility for their own security?

    5. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The Chinese government runs large programs specifically designed to steal everything and hand it over to government controlled corporations.

      If you don't think that you've every been hacked then you either don't have something worth hacking, or don't know what's going on in your own servers.

    6. Re: Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      Really? Please provide links that show that American businesses developed espionage,and something from Pravda, xinhua, or people's daily.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    7. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 2

      when are corporations (individuals) going to stop hiding behind laws--in the hopes that they will save them

      Just as soon as they holding executives liable for their negligence (corporate responsibility) or after it starts putting companies out of business (survival of the fittest).

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    8. Re: Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      Sad thing is, that at one time, American businesses and government was decent at security. Now, it is a joke.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    9. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      If you don't think that you've every been hacked then you either don't have something worth hacking, or don't know what's going on in your own servers.

      Or it's Pwnd so badly that the attackers keep it running smoothly so that their access to it is assured.

    10. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by canuck57 · · Score: 1

      Protectionism taxing American business just drives up costs and makes them less competitive.

      Better find a better solution. As protectionism on a country level is like a snake eating its own tail. The more you protect, the more uncompetative the nation becomes. How many offices will buy furniture at say $20,000 for a basic metal desk and chair, then be able to compete?

      Its why the existing protectionism taxes for rich and unions is not working. A Chinese or Indian can buy a nice car for only $10,000, pay less than half to maintain it, thus they can work for less. Cannot keep inflating the economics with debt, false hope, BS, higher costs of government.

      But hey, some career government glass house mentality types have a lye for ya. False hope for a vote. And over $9 trillion of added debt to support with little benefiting the main stream middle class. Ya, government is working hard, but not business/job smart. Working hard doing the wrong things as the wrong things are not politically correct/corrupt enough.

    11. Re:Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Does everyone know that? As usual there is zero evidence provided here, and in the few cases where there has been evidence it has been extremely weak, like an IP address that is in China (because hackers never use proxies).

      Maybe the Chinese have figured some stuff out on their own. The have a huge number of highly trained engineers and scientists.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    12. Re: Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They may not have invented it, but you're an idiot if you think that they haven't been doing it longer and better than the Chinese.

    13. Re: Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you blaming the victim? Because that is not politically correct, you inconsiderate clod!

    14. Re: Criminal yes, Poor Security yes by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      Longer than the CHinese? You think that a culture that has been around for 4000 years has not been doing it longer than a culture that is less than 400 years?

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  4. Industrial Espionage by rmdingler · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Sometimes we forget: It's not just governments spying on other governments or their citizens... sometimes this is done for fun and profit.

    Just don't pretend you've a right to the high road. Chances are, your gov't engages in this subterfuge, too.

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

    1. Re:Industrial Espionage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is not a matter of chance - it is a well known fact.
      And it has been going on forever.
      Back when GE controlled Telex, French companies were robbed blind by the US.
      And they probably were not the only ones.
      The French were smart enough to figure out how they were being screwed and stop it.

  5. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by WarJolt · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And Slashdot will defend China because most of the users here inexplicably hate the US.

    That's bullshit. American /.ers hate either American big business (aka wallstreet) or they hate the American government (aka mainstreet). Some /.ers hate both. This is no different than the rest of America. In China they are basically the same thing, so you're just wrong.

  6. This is about anti-dumping by eegeerg · · Score: 1

    From TFA:

    "The Chinese industry has formed a cartel that sets purchase and sale prices, and controls production and export volumes to target export markets." But then it added a 21st century twist: "The Chinese industry has used its government to steal U.S. Steel's closely guarded trade secrets and uses those trade secrets to produce advanced steel products it could not make on its own."

    1. Re:This is about anti-dumping by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If US Steel can make these "advanced steel products", everyone can.

  7. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by inode_buddha · · Score: 1

    THIS +1000

    --
    C|N>K
  8. Chinese "Baghdad Bob" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Of course a real investigation takes some time, 30 days to even decide whether to pursue an investigation. Meanwhile Chinese Baghdad Bob only takes zero days to do his own complete investigation into the matter before he's able to assert with total confidence that none of it's true.

    Unless of course he's nothing but a lying propagandist whose quotes aren't worth the paper they're not even printed on.

  9. Falcata by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0

    Humans have been making steel for nearly 4000 years, and the Chinese have been making steel since the Warring States in like 400 BC, when Americans were still living in caves. So what trade secrets could we possibly have that they'd want?

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Falcata by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Chinese steel mills are mostly state run, which means they have to keep producing to keep people employed or else they will have unemployment and riots. They're looking for more advanced steel to make that sells for more money.

    2. Re: Falcata by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep thats why china has shuttered a large number of steel mills.

    3. Re: Falcata by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, not really: http://www.afr.com/news/world/china-reopens-steel-production-10-times-greater-than-australia-20160427-gofxze

    4. Re:Falcata by lgw · · Score: 1

      If you don't understand it, it must be easy, right?

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    5. Re:Falcata by gtall · · Score: 1

      Yep, steel production has not progressed much in 4000 years. Those alloys we have now, those ancient peoples must sure have had them. Those modern techniques in steel production, hey, they had water wheels, what else did they need run a modern plant.

      Metallurgy? Ever hear of it? Science, math? Ring a bell?

    6. Re:Falcata by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Thanks for answering my question. So the trade secrets would be in the formulas of the alloys? That make sense. I don't know from metallurgy.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    7. Re:Falcata by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would they think they would find that at US Steel?

  10. fuck off USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    you have been stealing secrets for a few centuries now

    1. Re:fuck off USA by Ferocitus · · Score: 1

      Maybe the Chinese government has decided that it is in the best interests for China to appropriate the best technology that is available. (Plus a little extra as payback for the Treaty of Wanghia and the Opium Wars.)
      I'm sure that China will advise the US when the debt has been squared.

      --
      USB, USB, USB!
  11. You gave it to them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Chinese industry has used its government to steal U.S. Steel's closely guarded trade secrets and uses those trade secrets to produce advanced steel products it could not make on its own."

    Really? Really?! You could have fooled me with all those US steel engineers flying out with specs and plans and installing new hardware and software and generally doing just about everything to move the entire fucking industrial supply chain out to China to cut down on labour costs. Is there a single thing that US steel manufacturers didn't teach their Chinese sub-contractors to do over the last 20 years? Out of curiosity. Indulge me here.

  12. Keep IP off the Internet and... by Streetlight · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why do companies put their most secret and important intellectual property (IP) on servers connected to the Internet? What they should do is put phony, but looking somewhat reasonable, IP on their "secure" servers. The IP thieves should have some significant difficulty getting at it to make them feel like it's the real stuff. When they spend millions or billions building a factory to duplicate the stuff and then find out it was bogus, so much the better. Maybe the thieves will stop stealing and spend their money and time on innovation.

    --
    In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
    1. Re:Keep IP off the Internet and... by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      Why do companies put their most secret and important intellectual property (IP) on servers connected to the Internet?

      Willful ignorance and/or hubris.

      What they should do is put phony, but looking somewhat reasonable, IP on their "secure" servers. The IP thieves should have some significant difficulty getting at it to make them feel like it's the real stuff.

      This is called a honeypot.

      When they spend millions or billions building a factory to duplicate the stuff and then find out it was bogus, so much the better.

      The Chinese aren't stupid, they would investigate the material and determine it's validity.

      Maybe the thieves will stop stealing and spend their money and time on innovation.

      Or maybe we could stop hoarding knowledge and further all of humanity at once instead of acting like selfish petulant children.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    2. Re:Keep IP off the Internet and... by DivineKnight · · Score: 2

      We really need a filter for these kind of stories on /. I mean, the problem and solution is always the same: Company A has no network security because 1.) they went cheap, and the solution is stop doing that.

      Whining to the government after your open-barn-door network gets cracked (if barely, would not be surprised to find an anonymous FTP running on the company's production servers) is merely an attempt to keep your own 'cost-center' low by shoving the problem off onto someone else.

    3. Re:Keep IP off the Internet and... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Why do companies put their most secret and important intellectual property (IP) on servers connected to the Internet?"
      Not only that. First the rich CEO's of US (and Euro) corporations deploy a manufacturing plant in China to circumvent local taxes and dump local workers into poverty... and then after awhile they're surprised that the Chinese have stolen all their trade-secret and are selling their stuff at much cheaper prices then their own inflated rip-off prices!

      If they are so goddamn concerned about IP-theft then STAY AWAY FROM CHINA! Keep in the US and let US citizens also have a piece of the cake (through employment).

    4. Re:Keep IP off the Internet and... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because it takes skill and intelligence to fool smart people. To quote too many books and movies: Purposefully losing takes way more skill than winning.

    5. Re:Keep IP off the Internet and... by ohnocitizen · · Score: 1

      Why is this marked insightful? Companies need to communicate, including about their IP. OF COURSE they put IP on the internet. Also who has the time and money to create convincing yet fake IP? As if IP is just a text file with secret words in it. IP can include anything from diagrams to formulas, videos, spreadsheets, etc. Not all IP can be convincingly faked, or perhaps even faked at all.

      Also who would spend millions building a factory without having checked out what was stolen first?

      This is the kind of armchair opinion that when exposed to an ounce of scrutiny immediately turns to dust.

  13. The case may have merit... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...except for the whole trade show cret thing. That's how trade secrets work, their only protection is secrecy. Loose that and the protection is worthless.

  14. Wow, what a surprise... by mikeiver1 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe if American companies didn't put their most sensitive information on servers maintained by cheap out of country IT workers and protect said data with cheap off the shelf hardware configured by the cheapest IT staff they can lay hands on they would not find themselves being literally put out of business by their lesser competition.

  15. Wow by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    I'm shocked we managed to get a Tariff through. It's got nothing to do with bad products. 266% is not enough when they treat their workers as disposable and spew poison into the air. If we go back to doing that we could compete too. I think they call it "Race to the Bottom".

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:Wow by inode_buddha · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Believe it or not, the south african stuff was higher quality but the worker treatment was probably worse than the chinese even. That is not to say that it was particularly good, it was just relatively somewhat better. If I want good stuff from a modern mill, I get Thyssen-Krupp. That said, the best structural steel I ever used, bar none, was prewar Bethlehem old stock. That stuff was simply amazing. And yes indeed, its a race to the bottom for the workers (me) while the bosses are racing to the top....

      --
      C|N>K
  16. Why is this a headline anymore? by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1
    Haven't we've seen this type of story multiple times before?

    .
    A headline should be for something new and unexpected?

  17. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Dunbal · · Score: 1

    Wait, did you just say that American government is "main street"? ROFL. Main street is over here. The US government is way the hell over there doing god knows what.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  18. translation: management whine by dltaylor · · Score: 3, Insightful

    We don't want to spend the resources to properly secure our data and infrastructure, so we're going to whine about it, instead, and hope we can get someone else (like the US taxpayers) to solve the problem we've created for ourselves.

  19. Not quite by JBMcB · · Score: 1

    You can sue someone for "misappropriating" your trade secrets under US law, as long as you take reasonable precautions to keep it a secret.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
  20. Mr Pot meet Mr Kettle by IckySplat · · Score: 2

    > and uses those trade secrets to produce advanced steel products it could not make on its own
    Airbus *cough* Boeing *cough*

    --
    Help! help!, the termites are eating my DRAM!!!
    1. Re:Mr Pot meet Mr Kettle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is different: when the US does it, it is OK. It's only a problem when the roles are reversed for a change.

  21. Should have patented it by AK+Marc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So, China is steeling trade secrets. The kinds of secrets Patents were invented to protect. Since the steel companies didn't try to protect their inventions in the ways set up that greatly benefit corporations, they deserve to lose them to the Public Domain (where trade secrets lost end up). The people of the US are better off, now that we can legally use the same tech. It's corporate greed. They didn't want to have it exclusively for only 14+ years, so kept it secret until they lost it. They gambled and lost, and had the intention to keep it hidden forever.

    Further proof that IP laws don't work.

    1. Re:Should have patented it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... keep it hidden forever. ...

      It's unlikely the Chinese are showing everyone the new forging technology they 'acquired', so the original owners filing a patent for it is rather practical. Any evidence the Chinese are using the new technology becomes a matter for the ITC.

    2. Re:Should have patented it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Better yet, why even keep it secret at all? These kinds of things benefit humanity at large. When you benefit humanity at large, you benefit yourself 7 billion times over. Example: say I invent unlimited clean energy. I tell everyone how it's done. Sure, I don't get to become the world's ONLY energy supplier, with an evil monopoly and rule the whole world, BUT, everyone will STILL come to me FIRST with the energy needs. Cause I'm the guy who invented it. I'll make plenty. No, I won't make EVERYTHING THERE IS TO MAKE, but I'll still make tons of money. The only reason to ever have patents is GREED. ONLY REASON. ONLY. THE ONLY REASON TO HAVE PATENTS IS GREED. Say it with me. THE ONLY REASON TO HAVE PATENTS IS GREED. Fuck patents. Fuck people who keep knowledge secret. Fuck the greedy fuckers to hell.

    3. Re:Should have patented it by roman_mir · · Score: 1

      They didn't want to have it exclusively for only 14+ years, so kept it secret until they lost it. They gambled and lost, and had the intention to keep it hidden forever.

      - trade secrets is the way to go, there shouldn't be government protections for anybody's monopoly, so AFAIC the trade secret is the way to protect your property right. As to 'gambled and lost', so for how long have they had their trade secrets, if they had them for longer than 14 years then they gambled and won.

    4. Re:Should have patented it by AK+Marc · · Score: 1
      Trade secret for the replacement for patent, yes. But since we have a patent system now, not using it isn't the fault of the Chinese, who more likely reverse engineered it, and US Steel is mad that China is charging less. It's about profit, not tradecraft.

      if they had them for longer than 14 years then they gambled and won.

      For someone who sometimes says smart things, you spend most of your time pretending to be dumb. Patents are good for much longer than that. Velcro is still being protected with patents, invented in 1948. Yes, I know you disagree, argue with reality, not the messenger who points out reality doesn't match your strawman. Yes, I know how long a patent is for. I also know the result of derivatory patents. Effectively, patents are 14 years with 14 year extensions available, even if that's not how it's supposed to be.

    5. Re:Should have patented it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, China is steeling trade secrets.

      If this problem doesn't get ironed out fast, it might galvanize support for trade sanctions!

  22. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Naw, everyone knows the US is responsible for every single bad thing in the world, and with Slashdot's backend deduplication, we might as well just go with anti-US rants on a number scale, such as rant #44 being the one about prisons, rant #31 being about being shot, and so on.

    As for China, they are a is a lily-white entity and would never stoop to such stuff. Especially how they would never stoop to compromising solar companies a few years back, and making panels for cheaper than the costs of the rare earth. Nope... China is perfectly innocent here.

  23. Worthless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If USS trade secrets are so very valuable, why are they hanging out on the internet?
    Whether the Chinese hacked their network - or not - is irrelevant.
    This is a simple case of incompetent management by USS.
    If I were a USS stockholder, I'd be dancing the Icahn two-step about now.

  24. US Steel must be angry... by hyades1 · · Score: 1

    ...that somebody came along and stole all the technology US Stelle looted from Stelco in Canada, and moved down to their US plants.

    Now if China found a way to steal pensions, too, it would really be a case of poetic justice.

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  25. Screw 'Em by SoVi3t · · Score: 1

    US Steel lied to every single person involved with their purchase of Stelco steel company, and has dragged out the case for so long, while people I know, and their families, get shafted. http://www.thespec.com/news-st.... I hate chinese/russian hackers as much as the next guy, but I could care less about US Steel and their scummy tactics.

    --
    Defender of Microsoft and Communism!!!
  26. Re: China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by WarJolt · · Score: 1

    Let me explain.

      If you make the government as huge as many politicians want it then there's no room for wallstreet. The government will seize large portions of the economy. You won't need wall street anymore.

    It's silly to think small investment firms are less likely to screw you out of your money. I always thought main street being the antithesis of wallstreet was a euphemism politicians use for big government that somehow made their constituents all warm and fuzzy inside because it implies sticking it to the evil wall street, but maybe I made a leap others didn't. Maybe politicians really do support small local investment firms. I doubt it though.

  27. Hard to believe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I find it hard to believe a company making steel would have any interest in US Steel's "trade secrets". Their production is hopelessly outdated and they only exist because of decades of Good Ol' American Protectionism.

    1. Re:Hard to believe by gweihir · · Score: 1

      That is just the thing with protectionism: It looks good short-term, but long term it _assures_ failure because innovation and modernization are delayed forever. The voters are to stupid to grasp even elementary and obvious things like that and the politicians do not care as long as they get to keep their power. An increased call to protectionism is a good indicator that a country is in serious economic trouble, typically of their own making.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  28. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeh, because its not like the US goes around starting wars, sponsors terrorists, interferes with other countries govts is it?
    Oh wait, yes they do. Dont whine when you reap what you sew asshole.

  29. Funny by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These american steel producers do understand china invest heavily in science? As in lets learn how world actually work and make better products.. That means China has increasing technological advancing cycle... Its not anymore just hey lets produce our bad product cheap in China country..

    China is not the underdeveloped third world country it used to be 50-years ago. Yes you can still manufacture cheap there, flip side of that coin is actually high tech stuff... half the damn planets uses China manufactured phones, etc...

    Besides US does same thing with NSA, steal trade and business secrets and hand them out to american companies for unfair business advantage...

  30. mean while by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the chinese will investigate the matter , find themselves not guilty and reprimand the staff involved. Oh wait that is just America on war crimes.

  31. The U.S stole gun-powder and explosives by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    from China, where it was invented in the 9th century, and they've been using it for a couple of centuries without paying a single cent in royalties. What about ore refinement and manufacturing of steel, did you invent that too? Oh right, you didn't. Bullshit as usual from the sewer outlets that their media and propaganda machines are.

  32. But.. Buuuut.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But american exceptionalism! How dare they to do unto us like we do unto everybody.

  33. Making Steel is no secret by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Steel is real easy to make - no secrets to be stolen.
    USA's problem is that the buyers want cheap cheap and never ask or think about quality.

    An electron microscope shows up heat treatments, and you can determine what additives or impurities are in the steel and their percentages
    Trouble is steel mill hate paying for additives, or slow, even cooling, or cooking off impurities.
    The thought of slowing production down is unthinkable?

    A lot of stuff coming into the USA is crap steel often made from scrap steel, and the dregs into re-bar.

  34. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 2

    ... or they hate the American government (aka mainstreet)....

    I must have missed the part where the American government is mainstreet. I don't think that many positions that the government takes including its stances on NSA, civil forfeiture, H1B and immigration in general, free trade, foreign aid, and a great many other topics represent main street. Indeed the US has been shown to be an oligarchy where what government does bears little resemblance to what the people want. Citations:

    http://www.washingtontimes.com...

  35. Re: China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Small firms are vulnerable to competition. Huge companies with a billion dollars of capital are to create in a year.

  36. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People defend China because China haven't done shit to anyone, which is something you haven't been able to say about the U.S. for close to a century. People understand that accusations like these, and the others made, are just BS coming from U.S businesses and a pressured U.S. which is desperately trying to keep the Dollar from imploding.

  37. Ironic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The ultimate in irony: an American company complaining about industrial espionage by other countries.

  38. U.S. Steel shafts Stelco by CrashNBrn · · Score: 1
    A little more detail on this: Stelco's takeover by U.S. Steel no net benefit for Canada

    In remaking Stelco into U.S. Steel Canada Inc., the Pittsburgh parent committed to a number of binding undertakings, 31 in all. Chief among them were production levels (an increase in annual steel production to at least 4.3 million tons a year) and employment (no fewer than 3,950 full-time employees).

    Seven years later, in September, 2014, the Canadian operation was granted protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, which is still winding its way through the courts. So that pretty much tells you that events did not unfold as planned.

  39. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's "sow", you shit-guzzling fucktard.

    And you'd be reaping right now if the US didn't do stuff. Like, literally out in a field with some foreigner pointing his gun at you while you reap food by hand to feed someone else while your family starves. You can't be good in this world.

  40. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

    No, we just recognize the hypocrisy. Because China sells steel less than the US Steel people can sell it for and make a 50% profit on it, it must be illegally dumped. If the quality is almost as good as US Steel, then the quality must have been stolen. No proof of either accusation is presented. Just an undesirable business outcome that US Steel wants to turn into an international incident, because that's easier than making good steel.

  41. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

    And Slashdot will defend China because most of the users here inexplicably hate the US.

    That's bullshit. American /.ers hate either American big business (aka wallstreet) or they hate the American government (aka mainstreet). Some /.ers hate both. This is no different than the rest of America. In China they are basically the same thing, so you're just wrong.

    Canadians do not dislike or hate Americans!!! We have a Bernie Sanders mindset, and want to see a more equitable society. And we enjoy watching Trump, Hillary, Bernie, and the others who we find clueless.

    Anyone running for president should have been a tourist in the various countries in Europe and Latin America. They will discover how well the poor in those countries live, versus the poor in America.

    --
    Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
  42. Cyber Stealth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    To US Steal, the defense industry, US BIG BUSINESS, and DOD that don't want your secrets stolen, IT is a niece thing but not necessary thing to do your business.

    If you don.'t want it stolen then don't do computers.

  43. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by mikeiver1 · · Score: 1

    I hate neither big business nor wall street. I just think they operate in a morally and ethically shitty fashion. They manipulate the government and the laws in a manner that is designed to do the maximum damage to the general public and enrich the few that are owners/ controllers of corporations. IE, moving the control and wealth from the middle class and the poor to themselves. I am also realistic enough to know that there is nothing that we can do about it at this point other than surrender our morals and ethics to become one of them. Dennis Leary put it best "Life sucks, get a fucking helmet!"

  44. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Coren22 · · Score: 1

    The poor in America have a roof over their head, food on their table, a phone in their pocket, and money to spend. How exactly are Canadian or European poor significantly different?

    America has a homeless problem, but this is generally not caused by being poor but by some kind of mental illness (such as addiction). There are many programs for these people, but for various reasons, they prefer to live the homeless lifestyle. This is a totally different issue.

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  45. Re:China launches cyberattacks against thebUS by Anonymous+Cow+Ward · · Score: 1

    Why'd you bring Canada into this?

    Also, the poor in most of Latin America are significantly worse off than those in America. The poor in Europe are sometimes better off, although it really depends on the country, and on what you consider "poor".

    --
    Examine even your most deeply held beliefs. Nobody is always right.