Canada’s Defence Minister Points to Nortel, Which Fell as China’s Huawei Rose, When Citing Foreign IP Theft Risks

Canada’s defence minister has urged vigilance against foreign powers seeking to acquire Canadian technology and intellectual property, drawing a parallel to the Nortel case. Nortel, a former Canadian tech leader, filed for bankruptcy protection around the time China’s Huawei experienced global growth. A former Nortel security adviser alleged years of IP theft by Chinese hackers, whose warnings were not heeded.

• Canada’s defence minister advises remaining vigilant against foreign powers acquiring Canadian technology and intellectual property.
• The Nortel case is cited as an example of foreign IP theft risks.
• Nortel, a major Canadian tech company, filed for bankruptcy in 2009 as Huawei began its global rise.
• A former Nortel security adviser reported witnessing IP theft by Chinese hackers for years.
• This is the first time a Canadian minister has publicly linked Nortel’s issues to foreign IP theft.