Core Viewpoint - Yitang Co., Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against Applied Materials, Inc. for infringement of trade secrets, claiming damages of 99.99 million yuan due to the alleged illegal acquisition and use of its core technology related to plasma sources and wafer surface treatment [2][8]. Group 1: Legal Action and Allegations - Yitang Co., Ltd. accuses Applied Materials of unlawfully obtaining and using its trade secrets, which were disclosed through a patent application in China, violating the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People's Republic of China [2][7]. - The lawsuit has been filed in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, and the case has been officially registered but has not yet gone to trial [2][8]. - Yitang Co., Ltd. seeks a court order to stop Applied Materials from using its trade secrets and demands compensation for economic losses, including punitive damages amounting to 99.99 million yuan [7]. Group 2: Company Background and Technology - Yitang Co., Ltd. specializes in semiconductor equipment, focusing on the research, development, production, and sales of wafer processing equipment essential for integrated circuit manufacturing [8]. - The company emphasizes its original research and development capabilities, particularly in using high-concentration, stable, and uniform plasma for wafer surface treatment, which is a key technology in its dry stripping, dry etching, and surface treatment processes [5][8]. - Yitang Co., Ltd. reported significant revenue growth, with projected revenues of 47.63 billion yuan, 39.31 billion yuan, and 46.33 billion yuan for the years 2022 to 2024, respectively, and a compound annual growth rate of 18.9% in net profit [8]. Group 3: Employee Recruitment and Confidentiality - Applied Materials allegedly recruited two employees from Yitang Co., Ltd.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, Mattson Technology, Inc., who had access to the core technology related to plasma generation and processing [7]. - These employees had signed confidentiality agreements during their tenure at Mattson Technology, committing to strict confidentiality regarding the technical information, including the trade secrets in question [7].
员工跳槽泄露商业机密？这家A股公司，索赔9999万元！