->
-> NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Two weeks after being
-> sued for patent infringement, Intel Corp. has
-> responded by filing suit against Digital Equipment
-> Corp. (DEC) for "misappropriating" trade secrets.
-> Intel, the world's largest chip maker, alleged DEC
-> violated intellectual property rights by refusing to
-> return certain documents as required by previous
-> contracts. Intel made its request for its documents
-> over the past week.
-> The latest claims follows DEC's charges filed May
-> 13 that Intel infringed on 10 of its patents in designing
-> and selling its Pentium, Pentium Pro and Pentium II
-> microprocessors.
-> "We have an obligation to our shareholders to
-> take the steps to ensure that companies that sue us
-> for patent infringement claims don't have access to
-> our confidential materials," said Charles Mulloy, Intel
-> spokeman. "They are suing us; yet, they have
-> knowledge of some of our most confidential
-> information."
-> Intel's suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in
-> San Jose, Calif., specifically alleging breach of
-> contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair
-> competition and unlawful business practices. The
-> company is also seeking preliminary and permanent
-> injunctions to try to prevent DEC from producing
-> chips, personal computers and other products using
-> its technology.
-> "As of yesterday DEC has refused to return Intel's
-> intellectual property," Intel said in a statement.
<< end of forwarded material >>
-
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