Networking vendor claims rival helped portray it as a national-security risk in the US

TP-Link is suing rival networking vendor Netgear, alleging that the rival and its CEO carried out a smear campaign by falsely suggesting, it says, that the biz had been infiltrated by the Chinese government.

"The accusation is baseless," TP-Link said in a complaint [PDF] filed this week in Delaware, asserting that it is a US company incorporated and headquartered in California, and that it has no ties with the Chinese government.

In the complaint, TP-Link claims that Netgear spread falsehoods about the security of TP-Link's products through public channels and earnings calls – information it said prompted "the media and others to spread this disinformation, thereby harming TP-Link's reputation."

TP-Link's filing seeks a jury trial. It is pursuing damages, alleging various legal violations, including commercial disparagement, defamation, unjust enrichment, and a breach of contract.

The latter action specifically relates to the $135 million TP-Link paid Netgear in 2024 ...