Corning Sues Hebei Dongxu Investment Group in China Alleging Misappropriation of Trade Secrets

Citybizlist New York is reporting that Corning Incorporated filed suit in the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court against Hebei Dongxu Investment Group Co., Ltd. for misappropriation of certain trade secrets related to the fusion draw process for manufacturing glass substrates used in active matrix liquid crystal displays ("LCDs").

They are also reporting that on the same day in Korea, Corning Incorporated and Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. ("SCP") filed suits in the Daejeon District Court against Hebei Dongxu, one of its officers, and two other named individuals, for related trade secret misappropriation. SCP is an equity company between Corning and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which uses Corning LCD glass technology under license agreements with Corning.

In these actions, Corning is seeking monetary damages and orders restraining Hebei Dongxu from using, disclosing, or permitting others to use, misappropriated Corning LCD glass manufacturing technology. Two of the individuals named in the Korean suit were previously convicted in Seoul Southern District Court on January 22, 2009, for the theft of certain Corning LCD glass technology that was being used by SCP.

We'll keep an eye on this one for you - here's an American based company suing in China's courts and Korea's courts to protect their intellectual property rights. Novel idea, eh?