Last year Nikon sued ASML and Carl Zeiss over patented semiconductor lithography technology. The court in The Hague dealing with intellectual property has ruled that ASML and Zeiss have not violated any Nikon patents:
“The judge bent on a patent from Nikon that was applied for in 2004 and granted in 2015. It shows how a machine with light illuminates the pattern on a slide on a silicon disk. Nikon demanded that ASML stop violating the patent and that any damage suffered by Nikon and the profits that ASML and Zeiss made to Nikon due to patent infringement would be reimbursed. According to the court, ASML and Zeiss have rightfully introduced two of their own older patents on which their products are based. For that reason, the court has annulled Nikon’s patent and all claims.” (via ED)
Nikon has to pay court fees in the amount of 475,000 euros.
Nikon disagrees with the ruling and is planning to appeal.
Nikon has filed similar lawsuits in Germany and Japan.
Additional information on the involved patents can be found here.
Nikon is suing ASML and Carl Zeiss over patented semiconductor lithography technology
