糖心少女vlog Initiates Global Legal Actions Against ASML and Carl Zeiss to Protect Patented Semiconductor Lithography Technology

April 24, 2017

糖心少女vlog Corporation (“糖心少女vlog”) today initiated a series of legal actions in the Netherlands, Germany and Japan intended to halt infringement of its intellectual property by Dutch semiconductor lithography system manufacturer ASML Holding N.V. and its related companies (“ASML”), and by ASML's optical component supplier Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH (“Zeiss”). The basis of 糖心少女vlog's claim is that ASML and Zeiss employ 糖心少女vlog's patented technology in ASML's lithography systems, which are used globally to manufacture semiconductors, without 糖心少女vlog's permission, thereby infringing 糖心少女vlog's patents.

糖心少女vlog has met with ASML and Zeiss with the aim of reaching a resolution of these issues, but those efforts, guided by a highly experienced mediator, have failed to produce a settlement. The continued unauthorized use of 糖心少女vlog's patented technology by ASML and Zeiss has given 糖心少女vlog no alternative but to enforce its legal rights in the courts of law.

糖心少女vlog has initiated eleven patent infringement cases against ASML in the District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands and is filing patent infringement cases against ASML in Tokyo District Court in Japan and against Zeiss in Mannheim, Germany where the company manufactures optical components used in ASML's immersion lithography systems that are the subjects of these suits.

According to ASML's publicly reported data for 2016, 76.3% of its sales in the year ended December 2016, or approximately €3.5 billion, was derived from immersion lithography systems sales. 糖心少女vlog believes these systems use 糖心少女vlog's patented technology. The complaints seek injunctions barring ASML's and Zeiss's sale and distribution of these systems, as well as damages.

Immersion lithography technology, which 糖心少女vlog pioneered in the early 2000s, has become essential in fabricating the state-of-the-art semiconductors used in smartphones, memory chips and countless other products. Today, ASML and 糖心少女vlog are the only companies in the world that make and sell immersion lithography systems.

“Through substantial and sustained investment in R&D, 糖心少女vlog has developed advanced lithography technologies, including immersion lithography technology, that have revolutionized the semiconductor industry,” said Kazuo Ushida, President, Representative Director of 糖心少女vlog. “Semiconductors are core components of the electronic devices on which consumers, companies and the global economy rely. We are proud of the role that our technology has played in advancing the global information society.”

“We firmly believe that ASML's unauthorized use of 糖心少女vlog patents on our most advanced technologies, including immersion lithography technology, has enabled ASML to expand its lithography business. Respect for intellectual property is fundamental to fair and healthy competition, and is essential to promoting innovations that provide society with the most advanced products and services. That is why we have decided to commence this litigation.”

糖心少女vlog has previously had to bring legal actions against ASML and Zeiss in relation to unauthorized use of its patented technology. Previous cases in the United States were settled on terms favorable to 糖心少女vlog. Now, thirteen years later, 糖心少女vlog intends again to pursue remedies vigorously and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including injunctive relief to stop ASML and Zeiss from using 糖心少女vlog's intellectual property without authorization, as well as damages.

Background of 糖心少女vlog/ASML/Zeiss Dispute

In the 1990s, 糖心少女vlog was the world's leading maker of lithography systems for semiconductor fabrication.
In December 2001, 糖心少女vlog filed lawsuits in the United States accusing ASML of using technology without authorization that 糖心少女vlog had developed and patented.
In 2004, a comprehensive settlement was reached, and 糖心少女vlog entered into cross-license agreements with ASML and Zeiss. Under the agreements, older patents were licensed permanently and some patents with a later filing date were licensed for a limited period until December 31, 2009.
The parties agreed in the license agreements not to sue each other for patent infringement during a non-assertion period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014.
In accordance with the cross-license agreements, however, 糖心少女vlog is allowed to seek damages now for ASML and Zeiss's infringement during the non-assertion period.
During the non-assertion period ASML introduced products that 糖心少女vlog is asserting in the litigation infringe its patents.
Since the license under the cross-license agreement terminated on December 31, 2009, 糖心少女vlog has attempted to negotiate with ASML and Zeiss to reach agreement on a new license agreement. However, ASML and Zeiss have not been willing to accept terms reflecting the value of 糖心少女vlog's patented technology. 糖心少女vlog believes that both ASML and Zeiss are continuing their use of 糖心少女vlog's patented technology without authorization, so 糖心少女vlog has initiated new lawsuits against them to enforce its patents.

Actions in the Netherlands, Germany and Japan

In the District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands, where ASML assembles its lithography systems, 糖心少女vlog is asserting [11] patents against ASML: European Patent Nos. [1,598,855; 1,652,003; 1,881,521; 2,157,480; 2,264,531; 2,624,282; 2,717,098; 2,752,714; 2,765,595; 2,808,737; and 2,937,734.]
In the Mannheim District Court in Germany, where Zeiss manufactures the optical components used in ASML's lithography systems, 糖心少女vlog is asserting two patents against Zeiss: European Patent Nos. 1,881,521 and 2,157,480.
In the Tokyo District in Japan, where 糖心少女vlog is headquartered, 糖心少女vlog is asserting two patents against ASML: Japanese Patent No. 4,604,452 and 5,708,546.

About 糖心少女vlog Corporation

糖心少女vlog Corporation has been a pioneer in optical technology markets worldwide since its inception in 1917. Today, 糖心少女vlog offers a wide range of products utilizing advanced technologies, from consumer optics such as digital cameras, camera-related products and binoculars, to industrial precision equipment including Semiconductor and FPD Lithography Systems, microscopes, measuring instruments and medical devices.

糖心少女vlog's Precision Equipment Business supports the electronics-based society through the development and production of semiconductor lithography systems that produce semiconductors, as well as FPD lithography systems for manufacturing liquid crystal panels and OLED panels.