Home » News 2009-09-16

News 2009-09-16

MEI in the News & Elsewhere

MEI LLC Granted Summary Judgment Against Integral Applied Technology (IAT), and Gustavo Martinez in Software Copyright Case.

Courts Support MEI in Protecting IDX Automation Software from Unauthorized Use

Albany , OR– Sept 16, 2009

MEI, LLC, a leading provider of semiconductor and solar wafer processing equipment and services, including wet benches, automation software and related service and support, today announced it received an order for summary judgment against INTEGRAL APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, INC. (“IAT”)  and Gustavo Martinez, based in Pennsylvania, for copyright infringement, violations of the Lanham Act, and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The order, handed down by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, is the alternative to a trial by jury and found IAT liable for infringements associated with selling unauthorized, illegally modified copies of MEI’s IDX software. Integral Applied Technology’s CEO Gustavo Martinez also was held liable for copyright infringement.

MEI initiated legal proceedings in March 2008 when it came to their attention that IAT was selling semiconductor manufacturing equipment retrofits with unauthorized copies of MEI’s IDX Automation Software, with copyright protections and identifications removed. IAT and Gustavo Martinez had previously paid for and obtained several authorized copies of MEI’s IDX automation software. Upon notification that MEI would no longer provide IAT with IDX software, IAT used illegally copied and modified software on additional equipment sold to one of its customers. In so doing, they circumvented digital key copy protections.

IAT was unresponsive to MEI’s inquiries into the matter, resulting in legal action taken by MEI to halt distribution and misappropriation of their proprietary software.

“The summary judgment against IAT and Gustavo Martinez is an important step in preventing unauthorized use of our feature-rich software for wafer processing systems and semiconductor manufacturing equipment” said Dan Cappello, president of MEI, LLC. “Our suit against IAT and Gustavo Martinez was based upon the principals of right and wrong; pursuing the right and standing up against those that are clearly in the wrong.  No one has the right to use other’s intellectual property without permission or compensation and MEI will seek prosecution and restitution wherever and whenever our IP is misappropriated”.

About IDX Automation Software:

MEI’s IDX robotics automation software is a highly configurable, object-oriented platform used in a variety of automation systems. It was designed from the ground up to specifically address the need for robotics automation for semiconductor and solar cell process equipment, including wet benches for cleaning, stripping and etching silicon wafers. It is SECs/GEM compliant and runs on the Windows platform with a touch screen interface. It is installed in over two hundred semiconductor tools worldwide. MEI’s IDX Automation software substantially includes MEI’s copyrighted IDX Flexware software, United States Copyright Registration No. TX 6-820-166

###

About MEI LLC

MEI is a diversified manufacturing and service company serving the semiconductor and high technology industries. The company’s specialties include automated and semi-automated wet process systems and services for the semiconductor and MEMs industries; Solar wafer, polysilicon and ingot cleaning,  chemical delivery systems, control automation software; industrial and process equipment moving, rigging and crating services; and clean room safety, ergonomic and support equipment.  MEI has built its reputation upon a commitment to outstanding customer service since 1990. For more information about MEI, visit www.meillc.com.

Editorial contact, Dan Cappello, MEI LLC.  Dan.Cappello@meillc.com (541) 704 2427

PR Contact: Katherine Cleland, Cleland Marketing ;  Katherine@clelandmarketing.com 541-231-4445

ALBANY, OR. — MEI LLC, an Albany based semiconductor manufacturing equipment
maker, will construct a new 26,000 square foot manufacturing and headquarters facility in
Millersburg, company president Dan Cappello announced today. Envisioned as a high
efficiency production facility for MEI’s internationally marketed lines of solar wafer
manufacturing equipment, semiconductor wet processing equipment, chemical delivery
systems and services, the new facility will enable MEI to consolidate all of its programs in
one building, with better manufacturing efficiencies.

The new production facility will be located a few miles north of the company’s current
location and will house MEI’s semiconductor and solar manufacturing equipment operations
and headquarters. Ground breaking took place last week, and occupancy is targeted for
September, 2009. The new facility will include clean space dedicated for quality assurance
and testing of the production machinery dedicated for clean industry use. MEI’s Powder
Coating, and Rigging & Crating businesses will continue to operate from the previous Albany
location. MEI also operates Machinery moving, Rigging & Crating operations from locations
in Corvallis, Oregon, Lehi, Utah, and Plano, Texas.

MEI LLC’s CEO Dan Cappello said, “This is a great opportunity for us to consolidate our
growing semiconductor and solar manufacturing equipment production into a single building,
providing us with more efficient work flow and additional clean area testing space. The new
building will reduce our costs, and strengthen our position as one of the nation’s top
manufacturers of automated and semi-automated batch wet processing equipment and
chemical delivery systems”. MEI Operations Manager Bill McGinty noted “this is a great
thing, to be building a new facility in this economic climate, it shows our strength, and our
commitment to the industry, our employees and our customers”.
The building will be constructed by Landmark Pacific Inc., of Turner, Oregon.

About MEI LLC
MEI is a diversified manufacturing and service company serving the semiconductor, solar and
MEMs, Nano manufacturing industries. The company’s specialties include solar and
semiconductor wet process systems and services; automated chemical delivery systems,
robotics automation software; factory relocations, machinery moving, rigging and crating
services; clean room safety, ergonomic and support equipment; as well as a variety of
manufacturing services, including plastic fabrication and powder coating. MEI was founded
in 1990 and currently employs more than 100 people. For more information about MEI, visit
http://www.meillc.com/
Editorial Contact: Dan Cappello PR Contact: Katherine Cleland

  Copyright ©2010 MEI LLC, All rights reserved. Privacy Policy