Hanmi Semiconductor's Final Victory in 'Unfair Competition Prohibition' Case

Hanmi Semiconductor announced that it has won the final victory in a lawsuit prohibiting unfair competition filed against former employee A, who moved to the domestic conglomerate H Corporation, winning both the first and second trials.

Former Hanmi Semiconductor employee A worked in the core equipment research and development department, including TC Bonder and Flip Chip Bonder, in 2021 before moving to H Corporation. In response, Hanmi Semiconductor filed a lawsuit to prohibit unfair competition.

Following the first trial victory in August 2023, the appellate court, Suwon High Court, also issued a final ruling prohibiting A from using or disclosing Hanmi Semiconductor's technical information.

A Hanmi Semiconductor official explained, "The employment of an employee responsible for the core technology of Hanmi Semiconductor's TC Bonder, an essential process equipment for AI semiconductors' HBM and the world’s market leader, at H Corporation poses a high risk of violating non-compete agreements and trade secret protection obligations." He added, "We filed the lawsuit to prohibit unfair competition," and further stated, "We hope that this court ruling will help establish a fair competition culture in Korea, a semiconductor powerhouse, where advanced technology companies cherish their technology and know-how."

Founded in 1980, Hanmi Semiconductor has increased exports based on 44 years of experience and know-how in the global semiconductor equipment market. Over the past decade, the export ratio relative to sales has averaged over 77%. It is a global company with approximately 320 customers worldwide. In particular, since establishing the Intellectual Property Department in 2002, the dedicated team of about 10 experts has filed over 120 patents, including 111 patents related to equipment for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI semiconductors.