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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FLSTF97 who wrote (33948)	2/1/2000 11:25:00 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

Applied Materials Wins Cash Payment and Permanent Injunction in Trade Secret Case SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2000--Applied Materials, Inc., announced today the settlement of its civil lawsuit against McDowell & Company and two of McDowell's officers, Donald Thomas ``Rusty' McDowell, Jr. and Herbert Reese. In the lawsuit Applied Materials claimed misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright infringement, breach of contract, and fraud relating to a scheme to improperly obtain proprietary blueprints of parts for Applied Materials' semiconductor manufacturing equipment and then to manufacture and to sell those parts. ``We are pleased that this matter was successfully resolved in a way that protects the hard work of our employees, as well as the interests of our company and stockholders,' stated Joseph J. Sweeney, group vice president of Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property for Applied Materials. ``Innovation is the lifeblood of Applied Materials' business, and this case illustrates our commitment to protect the intellectual property created by our significant investment in research and development.' The settlement requires a cash payment to Applied Materials in an undisclosed amount. In addition, the defendants are permanently prohibited from using or disclosing any Applied Materials trade secrets, including Applied Materials' blueprints of parts. The injunction also prohibits the defendants from manufacturing or selling more than 130 different Applied Materials parts. Applied Materials may inspect the defendants' facilities in order to ensure compliance with the injunction and other settlement terms. In a separate development, on Tuesday, January 25, 2000, the Federal Grand Jury in San Jose, California, returned a 19 count criminal indictment against McDowell & Company, Donald Thomas ``Rusty' McDowell, Jr. and Herbert Reese for conspiracy, wire fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, and other crimes related to the illegal sale of parts manufactured through the use of Applied Materials' blueprints. Mr. Sweeney confirmed that Applied Materials is cooperating with the FBI and U. S. Attorney in their investigation and prosecution. Applied Materials, Inc. is a Fortune 500 global growth company and the world's largest supplier of wafer fabrication systems and services to the global semiconductor industry. Applied Materials is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol, ``AMAT'. Applied Materials' website is appliedmaterials.com.