M/A-COM Tech vows to fight GigOptix lawsuit

While still reviewing the complaint, M/A-COM Technology Solutions (M/A-COM Tech) vows to “vigorously” dispute the lawsuit filed by GigOptix, Inc. against M/A-COM Tech, its recently acquired subsidiary Optomai, Inc., and five Optomai employees who previously worked at GigOptix.

The RF technology supplier, which plans to expand into the fiber-optic market through the Optomai acquisition, says it is “aware of no wrongdoing on the part of M/A-COM Tech, Optomai, or any of their employees in this regard, and accordingly believes that the GigOptix allegations are without merit.”

GigOptix, which makes a range of electronic and electro-optic components, principally for the optical communications space, filed the lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Optomai and its former employees April 26, the same day M/A-COM Tech announced it had acquired Optomai (see "GigOptix sues ex-employees, Optomai for alleged agreement breaches"). GigOptix alleges in the suit that its former employees used GigOptix trade secrets and breached their contracts in developing such products as modulator drivers and transimpedance amplifiers. Once M/A-COM Tech announced it had bought Optomai, GigOptix added the company to its complaint.

GigOptix has requested unspecified damages and injunctive relief. To date, the court hearing the case has not issued an injunction, and M/A-COM Tech says it doesn’t anticipate one.

The Optomai product line therefore remains available for sampling and production, M/A-COM Tech says.

“M/A-COM Tech has been pleased at the positive reaction optical networking customers have had to the Optomai acquisition, and remains committed to delivering M/A-COM Tech’s full portfolio of 40/100G modulator drivers and transimpedance amplifiers to its customers,” said Jihye Whang, director of strategic marketing. “We anticipate a just resolution of this matter through the legal process.”

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