Graphics chip maker Trident Microsystems is suing its design partner, chip-set maker Via Technologies, charging breach of contract, fraud, and patent infringement.

Trident claims Via broke a marketing agreement and illegally hired away 25 Trident engineers.

Trident executives say the company had a deal with Via under which Trident integrated its CyberBlade graphics core into two of Via's chip sets - the MVP4 and ProMedia. Via was supposed to market the MVP4 and ProMedia to desktop PC customers while Trident was granted access to integrate and sell Via's core-logic technology to notebook PC OEMs.

In its suit, Trident is seeking to halt sales of Via's MVP4 and ProMedia chip sets, and will ask for $200 million in punitive damages, plus an unspecified amount of actual damages.

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