Apr 20, 2023 14:00:00

GlobalFoundries, a major semiconductor manufacturer, sued IBM, claiming that ``Intel and Japanese semiconductor makers Rapidus have unfairly leaked trade secrets''

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On April 19, 2023, GlobalFoundries , a major American semiconductor manufacturing company, sued IBM for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets. It has been pointed out that IBM's licensing agreements with Intel and Japanese semiconductor maker Rapidus unfairly share trade secrets of IBM, which GlobalFoundries acquired in 2015.

GlobalFoundries Files Lawsuit Against IBM to Protect its Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets | GlobalFoundries
https://gf.com/gf-press-release/globalfoundries-files-lawsuit-against-ibm-to-protect-its-intellectual-property-and-trade-secrets/

GlobalFoundries sues IBM, says trade secrets were unlawfully given to Japan's Rapidus | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/technology/globalfoundries-sues-ibm-says-trade-secrets-were-unlawfully-given-japans-rapidus-2023-04-19/

IBM Sued For Giving Chip Secrets to Intel, Rapidus | Tom's Hardware

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/globalfoundries-sues-ibm-over-chip-ip

GlobalFoundries and IBM have collaborated on technology development for decades in Albany, New York. When IBM sold its microelectronics business to GlobalFoundries in 2015, the exclusive rights to license and disclose its technology were also sold to GlobalFoundries.

However, in December 2022, IBM

announced that it had formed a partnership with Rapidus for 2nm process semiconductor manufacturing. GlobalFoundries sues IBM for compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction to stop the use of trade secrets, alleging that IBM and Rapidus' partnership unlawfully shares GlobalFoundries' intellectual property and trade secrets. I'm here.

GlobalFoundries also claims that IBM is illegally disclosing and misusing intellectual property rights against Intel, which has announced a partnership in the next-generation semiconductor technology field in 2021. GlobalFoundries said, 'IBM and Intel's business partnership is based on decades of technology that GlobalFoundries and IBM jointly worked on.'

GlobalFoundries also pointed out that ``IBM may be unfairly receiving hundreds of millions of dollars (tens of billions of yen) in illegal licensing revenues and other profits.''

In addition to asking IBM for damages, GlobalFoundries is asking the court to stop illegal recruitment activities that have been accelerating since the announcement of the business alliance between IBM and Rapidus.

On the other hand, IBM told Reuters, ``GlobalFoundries has filed this meritless lawsuit after its own attempt to dismiss IBM's legitimate opinion alleging fraud and breach of contract was dismissed by the court. I did,” he criticized. 'Their allegations are completely baseless,' he said. Intel and Rapidus refrain from commenting.