ASML, a manufacturer of semiconductor lithography systems, has bitten back at Japan-based Nikon with a series of patent infringement claims. Recently, WIPR reported that Nikon had sued ASML and its optical component supplier Carl Zeiss (a company) in the Netherlands, Germany and Japan, accusing the companies of using Nikon’s patented technology in ASML’s lithography systems.
On April 28, ASML said that it has filed claims against Nikon for infringement of more than ten patents covering a range of products in the fields of cameras.The manufacturer filed suits in Japan—on its own and jointly with Carl Zeiss—and in the US. In 2001, Nikon complained to the US International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging that ASML had unlawfully imported stepper and scanner machines into the US. According to Wennink, the ITC found no violation. As part of the cross-licence agreement, some of the older patents were licensed permanently and some patents with a later filing date were licensed for a limited period until December 31, 2009.

Source: WIPR