News Article
Heraeus Obtains Judgment in Litigation Case
Heraeus Precious Metals North America has announced that it has obtained a $500,000 judgment under an agreement reached in litigation with former Heraeus Materials Technology LLC employee, Tung Pham, concerning alleged trade secret theft. Pham was employed as a senior scientist for the Photovoltaics Business Unit in West Conshohocken, Pa.
Shortly after Pham's resignation from Heraeus in April 2011, Heraeus found evidence that Pham had taken highly sensitive Heraeus trade secrets and altered or removed research data without permission relating to the development of a commercially viable lead-free metallization paste. Heraeus took immediate steps to protect and recover its valuable information, including notifying and cooperating with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office.
As part of the settlement, Pham admitted that he improperly downloaded hundreds of trade secrets and confidential information from Heraeus' computers immediately before his resignation.
Heraeus invests heavily in research and development, taking substantial measures to protect trade secrets by limiting access to its facilities, protecting computer files through password protection, encryption and other means, and requiring all employees to agree to strict contractual confidentiality provisions. Heraeus' trade secrets and intellectual property have been compiled at substantial expense to the company.
Heraeus is pleased to have reached some level of closure through this litigation. Heraeus will continue to be vigilant in protecting and exercising its trade secrets and intellectual property for the benefit of the company and the markets it serves.
