Applied Materials faced with antitrust lawsuit
Applied Materials faces a $100 million antitrust lawsuit, the allegations made by five U.S. chip manufacturing refurbishment companies are in dispute of anti-competitive practices. An article published in Austin Business Journal reported the claim, Applied Materials was accused of “freezing” the five companies out of the market. The article also states “the five plaintiffs are suing Applied Materials over its January 2005 decision to limit the availability of replacement parts for refurbishing its semiconductor manufacturing equipment.”
A news article, from EE Times comments “the companies alleged that Applied Materials’ practices violated U.S. antitrust laws. They claimed the violation could collectively cost $100 million in lost equipment value and future business revenues”. It was alleged that “Applied Materials is manipulating the equipment market to create a monopoly for itself in the IC manufacturing industry”
It has been advised that Applied Materials has yet to comment on the matter, but is said to be reviewing the nature of the complaint, and so the case continues.