US CAD Countersues in Contract Dispute

Irvine-based US CAD Inc. and another dealer that provides computer-aided design software said Wednesday that they have countersued industry leader Autodesk Inc. in what has become a running dispute.

US CAD and Digital Dimensions of San Diego claimed that Autodesk terminated their contracts last year after they refused to stop selling a competing software product. The lawsuits, filed in Marin County Superior Court, accuse San Raphael-based Autodesk of fraud and breach of contract.

Autodesk, however, said most of its 3,000 dealers sell competing software and that US CAD owes them money. Earlier this year, Autodesk sued US CAD to recover about $100,000, US CAD officials said.