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China Micro-Semiconductor slightly wins Veeco, and China Micro is suing Veeco as a valid patent
In the ongoing patent dispute between China Micro-Semiconductor and Veeco, China Micro-Semiconductor appears to have gained a slight advantage. According to recent reports, the Patent Reexamination Board of the State Intellectual Property Office has confirmed that the patents in question are valid. This decision was made public on November 24, when the board rejected an invalidation request filed by Veeco Shanghai regarding China Micro-Semiconductor's patent. The ruling affirmed that the patent involved in the lawsuit against Veeco Shanghai is indeed valid.
The news has sparked interest among investors and industry observers. Earlier this month, some media outlets reported that Veeco, a U.S.-based manufacturer of MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) equipment, had secured a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, preventing SGL Carbon, LLC from selling certain wafer carriers—specifically graphite disks—used in MOCVD technology. Notably, these graphite disks were designed for use in China Micro-Semiconductor’s MOCVD equipment.
This development caused fluctuations in the A-share market. On the 22nd, shares of Aoyang Shunchang, which imports MOCVD equipment, surged multiple times, while the stock price of Huacan Optoelectronics, one of China Micro-Semiconductor’s major customers, dropped significantly.
In response, China Micro-Semiconductor outlined three key strategies to address the challenges. First, it plans to develop alternative suppliers for its second and third channels, with product verification expected to be completed within a month and full batch production resolved in two to three months. Supply of graphite discs to customers could resume before the Spring Festival. Second, SGL has filed a counterclaim in the U.S., and progress is anticipated soon. Third, the company has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Veeco in China.
China Micro-Semiconductor officially filed the lawsuit against Veeco Shanghai in July this year, accusing the TurboDiskEPIK700 model of MOCVD equipment of infringing on its patented substrate tray synchronization technology. The company requested that Veeco cease the infringement and pay up to 100 million yuan in damages. In response, Veeco Shanghai had previously sought to invalidate the patent through the Patent Reexamination Board.
Yin Zhiwei, Chairman and CEO of China Micro-Semiconductor, emphasized the company’s long-standing commitment to intellectual property. Since its establishment in 2004, the company has supplied high-end manufacturing equipment to leading chip, LED, and power device manufacturers worldwide. It has always focused on independent technological development and built a strong IP portfolio. Over the past decade, China Micro-Semiconductor has successfully navigated numerous domestic and international IP disputes, maintaining a strong and unchallenged position.