Top global memory chipmaker Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it has agreed with Applied Materials Inc., the world's No. 1 chipmaking equipment maker, to a civil settlement over an industrial espionage dispute.
The South Korean branch of Applied Materials was accused in February of handing over Samsung's technology to smaller rival Hynix Semiconductor Inc., using its access to the company as its equipment supplier.
Applied Materials agreed to provide chip gears at discount prices to Samsung Electronics from this month to October 2013, according to the Korean company. It will also give other incentives to Samsung, including gear upgrades, Samsung added.
The settlement, however, does not affect on-going criminal charges lodged by Seoul prosecutors, a Samsung spokesman said.
Seoul prosecutors indicted 10 employees from the U.S.-based Applied Materials, and seven other current and former employees at Samsung and Hynix
on industrial espionage charges in February.