11 May 2011

GT Crystal sues ARC for misappropriation of trade secrets

GT Solar International Inc of Merrimack, NH, USA (a provider of polysilicon production technology as well as sapphire and silicon crystalline growth systems and materials for the solar, LED and other specialty markets) says that its subsidiaries GT Crystal Systems LLC and GT Solar Hong Kong Ltd have filed a lawsuit in the Hillsborough County Superior Court (Southern District) in New Hampshire against Advanced RenewableEnergy Company LLC (ARC), its CEO Kedar Gupta (co-founder & former CEO of GT Solar) and ARC employee Chandra Khattak for the misappropriation of trade secrets relating to sapphire crystallization processes and equipment.

The complaint alleges that ARC and the named individuals misappropriated trade secrets relating to GT Crystal Systems’ technology for manufacturing sapphire crystals, as a means of entering the sapphire crystallization equipment business. The complaint further alleges civil conspiracy, unfair competition, breach of contract and interference with contractual relations.

“We have an obligation to our shareholders to be diligent about protecting our intellectual property,” says GT Solar’s general counsel Hoil Kim. “When we believe our intellectual property has been compromised, we will take the necessary action to protect our rights,” he adds.

See related items:

GT Solar wins $91m in sapphire furnace orders from Asia

GT wins $218.9m sapphire furnace order from Haotian Opto

GT Solar wins $41.6m order for sapphire furnaces from new Asian customer

GT Solar wins $33.3m order for sapphire furnaces from South Korea’s OCI

GT wins first sapphire furnace orders since buying Crystal Systems

Tags: GT Solar Crystal Systems Sapphire crystallization furnaces

Visit: www.arc-energy.com

Visit: www.gtsolar.com