- TP-Link claims Netgear misrepresented a Microsoft report, significantly damaging its public reputation
- Netgear CEO’s remarks allegedly wrongly link TP-Link to Chinese state-backed cyber campaigns
- Disputed claims refer to threat groups named Typhoon without vendor attribution
TP-Link has filed a lawsuit accusing fellow hardware giant Netgear of intentionally spreading misleading claims portraying the company as linked to Chinese state-backed cyber threats.
The complaint alleges that Netgear CEO Charles Prober’s comments during a recent earnings call suggested that TP-Link played a role in cyberattacks attributed to groups tracked under the Typhoon naming system, despite no attribution to the vendor in initial reports.
TP-Link claims these statements distorted public perception and contributed to media reports suggesting its products pose a national security concern in the United States.
Contested references to cyberespionage activities
During the earnings call, Prober referenced Microsoft’s findings in a cyber campaign involving TP-Link routers, framing the issue as part of a broader national security review.
TP-Link disputes this interpretation, saying the report does not identify any involvement by the provider itself, but simply indicates that attackers exploited its routers as part of a botnet.
The company claims that citing multiple threat groups named Typhoon created a misleading association between the vendor and Chinese state operations.
TP-Link alleges that these statements were not only false but also derogatory.
The company emphasizes that it is incorporated and headquartered in California, employs hundreds of people in the state, and maintains U.S.-based leadership responsible for global decisions.
Its complaint acknowledges the existence of a separate predecessor entity based in China, but asserts that TP-Link Systems and TP-Link Technologies now operate independently.
The company says its U.S. headquarters denies allegations of Chinese government control or origin-based risk.
The filing also references an earlier settlement in which TP-Link paid Netgear $135 million to resolve a patent dispute.
Under the agreement, Netgear would have agreed to stop making disparaging statements about TP-Link and its products.
TP-Link claims that the remarks made during recent investor calls constitute a violation of this agreement and constitute commercial disparagement and unjust enrichment.
The seller is seeking damages and a jury trial to remedy the reputational damage and alleged contract violations.
Media reports have suggested that US agencies could review TP-Link products based on national security concerns, although no official confirmation has been released.
Follow TechRadar on Google News And add us as your favorite source to get our news, reviews and expert opinions in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp Also.
