May 21, 2001 – Gilbert AZ – Tokyo Electron Arizona today sued Discreet Industries Corp., Mineola, NY, in the US District Court for the Eastern District of NY.

The suit, which names several other companies and individuals in addition to Discreet, alleges that the defendants unlawfully used Tokyo Electron’s confidential information when they made and sold replacement parts for the firm’s Eclipse sputtering machines. Tokyo Electron Arizona supplies equipment and spare parts used in the manufacture of semiconductors.

According to the suit, the defendants, some using alias names to hide their identity, violated federal and state laws when they used Tokyo Electron Arizona confidential information and know-how to build and sell replacement parts for the machines. The states that Discreet Industries solicited and purchased the replacement parts from other defendants; some that were long-time suppliers of Tokyo Electron Arizona which had signed non-disclosure agreements with Tokyo Electron Arizona. The suit also maintains that at least one of the defendants also concealed the fact that he was supplying parts to Discreet when confronted by Tokyo Electron.

The suit seeks a court order forcing defendants to stop using Tokyo Electron Arizona’s confidential information and know-how. The suit also seeks, among other things, compensatory damages, trebled under the federal RICO statute, and punitive damages.