Acer Inc. is suing Gianfranco Lanci, the company's former president and CEO, in an Italian court for breaching a non-compete clause.

Lanci resigned from Acer last March, after he and the Board of Directors at the company were unable to reach a consensus about its future direction. Acer Chairman J.T. Wang and Lanci met a few days before the resignation, to agree on the terms of his departure.

Needless to say, Acer believes that Lanci has now violated this agreement by becoming the head of Lenovo Group Ltd.'s newly created Europe, Middle East, and Africa Division. Prior to taking on this role, Lanci was working with Lenovo as a consultant.

"We believe Mr. Lanci has breached his non-compete measures agreed into willingly by both parties when he left Acer," reads a statement issued by the company. "We are taking legal action against him in order to protect Acer's rights and interests."

Lanci and Lenovo have yet to comment on the matter.

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