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ReprintsMagazine raided in Renault espionage case
Lawrence J. Speer
Automotive News
July 16, 2008 - 5:01 am ET
French police on Tuesday questioned a journalist from specialized magazine Auto Plus and confiscated computers and photographs as part of an investigation into an industrial espionage complaint filed by Renault. The French carmaker filed an industrial espionage complaint in July 2007 after Auto Plus published photos of an as-yet unreleased model. A Renault spokesman would not confirm which confidential photos triggered last year's complaint. Auto Plus has published numerous photos and detailed information on the next-generation lower-medium Megane, slated for release at the Paris auto show in October. A Renault employee is reportedly under investigation for leaking the confidential photos to Auto Plus. All Renault employees sign standard confidentiality agreements prohibiting them from releasing information on new models or discussing them with the press, a company spokesman told Automotive News Europe. "When a car is revealed to the press before its launch," the spokesman said, "it has a real and immediate impact on sales of existing vehicles." |
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