From EETimes: Four former Applied Materials executives have been charged by the U.S. Justice Department in an alleged plot to steal trade secrets from their employer and use them in a competing startup in China.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI, the four men allegedly downloaded information from an Applied Materials database related to technology used in the production of LED wafers and plotted to use it to form a new startup to be located in China and the U.S.. The men allegedly downloaded more than 16,000 drawings, discussed their plans in multiple emails and attempted to recruit investors for the startup.
The four men — Liang Chen, Donald Olgado, Wei-Yung Hsu and Robert Ewald — have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and 11 counts of possessing stolen trade secrets. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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