Oct. 14, 2002 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Japan’s Nikon Corp. filed patent-infringement suits against ASML Holding NV in Japan and South Korea, reported Reuters.
Nikon filed the latest round in the ongoing patent case between the world’s top two chip gear companies last week, accusing ASML of infringing 12 of its patents. The Japanese company is seeking an injunction and monetary damages, according to a statement on its Web site.
“Nikon has filed a suit against us in Japan and South Korea. We anticipated just such a response,” ASML spokeswoman Beth Kitchener told Reuters.
The legal isues began in December 2001, when Nikon filed complaints with the US International Trade Commission and in the Northern District Court of California alleging ASML had violated several Nikon patents, and sought to prevent the Dutch company from importing its technology into the US.
ASML countersued in the US and Japan.