(Yicai) Dec. 6 -- Guide Infrared, a leading Chinese infrared thermal imaging tech maker, has filed a lawsuit against six former employees, Juexin Microelectronics, and the semiconductor firm's legal representative Mao Jianhong, accusing them of trade secrets infringement and demanding CNY200 million (USD27.7 million) in compensation.

Guide Infrared has also requested the court to order all defendants to immediately cease any unfair competition that involves infringing its trade secrets, the Wuhan-based company announced yesterday. In addition, it asked for an injunction against Juexin Microelectronics from using the plaintiff's trade secrets to make or sell any related products or provide any related services, it added.

Guide Infrared requested the court to order the defendants to destroy all products manufactured using its trade secrets and the molds and equipment specifically used for such manufacturing, it noted.

The Hubei Provincial Higher People's Court has accepted the case, Guide Infrared said, adding that the company also applied for asset preservation measures, with the court ruling to seize, impound, or freeze bank deposits and financial products, real estate, and other assets under Juexin Microelectronics, Mao Jianhong, and the six former employees totaling CNY200 million.

The six ex-staffers had knowledge of and access to Guide Infrared's trade secrets and were then recruited by Mao, leaving the company to establish Juexin Microelectronics, Guide Infrared said. This allowed the latter firm to build and commence production within a timeframe inconsistent with industry norms, making very similar products to those of Guide Infrared, it added.

Guide Infrared sees these actions as an infringement of its trade secrets, it stressed.

Juexin Microelectronics was established in Lishui, Zhejiang province, on June 20, 2019, with a registered capital of CNY340 million (USD47 million) and Mao as its legal representative, according to corporate information platform Tianyancha.

Guide Infrared's net profit tumbled 82 percent to CNY50.2 million (USD6.9 million) in the nine months ended Sept. 30 from a year ago, according to its latest financial report. Its revenue rose 12.4 percent to CNY1.8 billion (USD249.7 million).

Editor: Martin Kadiev