For my business dispute article summary review paper I have chosen Sun Microsystems versus Azul Systems. The battle between Sun Microsystems and Azul is about Start-up, a new software program, Stephen DeWitt, a former Sun Microsystems employee and now chief executive of Azul stole trade secrets, violated his non-compete agreement with Sun Microsystems, and recruited key Sun Microsystems employees to work for Azul. Sun also alleges Azul violated six of its patents.
In March, Azul, a developer of computer appliances to speed up Java applications, filed a complaint against Sun in U.S. District Court seeking to protect itself from a potential patent infringement lawsuit from Sun Microsystems. The two companies had held discussions for more than a year on whether Azul infringed on Sun's patents, but those talks were to no avail.
Sun Microsystems fired back in court against Azul Systems, alleging their start-up violated six of its patents and stole trade secrets. It was the latest volley in what has become an increasingly visible and strident legal fight between the two companies.
Sun Microsystems answered Azul's complaint, filing counterclaims of its own. Sun Microsystems, the Santa Clara computer and software developer contends Stephen DeWitt, a former Sun Microsystems employee and now chief executive of Azul, stole trade secrets, violated his non-compete agreement with Sun, and recruited key Sun employees to work for Azul. Sun also alleges Azul violated six of its patents.
Stephan DeWitt joined Sun Microsystems when it acquired his company, Cobalt Networks, in December 2000. The non-compete agreement DeWitt signed as a condition of the purchase, effective Dec. 12, 2000, prohibited him over the next two years from engaging in competitive business activity ...