In a new chapter of the rivalry between the United States and China in the technological arena, Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technologies has filed a lawsuit against Applied Materials, accusing the U.S. company of misappropriating trade secrets. The dispute, registered with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court, involves technologies critical to the semiconductor industry, specifically methods for plasma generation and wafer surface treatment. The Chinese firm, backed by the local government, is seeking compensation of 99.99 million yuan, equivalent to 13.94 million dollars.
The case centers on a patent filed by Applied Materials in China, involving two former Mattson Technology employees as co-authors, a unit that Beijing E-Town acquired in 2016. Beijing E‑Town argues that these workers were subject to confidentiality agreements, and that the patent in question infringes Chinese legislation on fair competition and trade secrets.
This lawsuit arises amid a series of prior litigations between the two parties. In 2022, Applied Materials had sued Mattson for allegedly recruiting employees with the aim of obtaining trade secrets, to which Mattson responded with a counterclaim in 2023.
From a technical standpoint, Beijing E‑Town claims to have advanced technology in the generation of high-concentration plasma, crucial for dry etching and surface treatments in chip fabrication. Besides compensation, the Chinese company seeks to halt the disclosure and commercialization of the products based on the technical secrets in question and to obtain recognition of rights to the contested patents.
This litigation is significant for several reasons. First, it reflects the growing effort by Chinese companies to protect their technological assets in the face of global competition. Second, it occurs in a tense geopolitical context between the U.S. and China, which could influence bilateral industrial relations. Third, an unfavorable ruling for Applied Materials could impact its position in the global market, as it is one of the leading suppliers of equipment for semiconductors. Finally, it could set an important legal precedent, given that China has taken similar actions against other Western technology companies, marking a tightening of the defense of its intellectual property.
For the moment, the court has accepted the lawsuit, but it has not yet set a date for the hearing. Applied Materials has not yet issued any public statement regarding it.
More information and references in Cloud News.
