Jiangmen Hongli Energy Co.ltd , https://www.honglienergy.com
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, the company 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 held by Zhongwei Semiconductor are valid. This decision was made on November 24, when the board rejected an invalidation request from Veeco Shanghai, effectively affirming the validity of Zhongwei's patent related to its MOCVD equipment.
The news came through the official WeChat account of China Micro-Semiconductor, which highlighted that the review decision supported the company’s claim that Veeco Shanghai had infringed on its intellectual property. This development is seen as a major win for Zhongwei, especially in the context of growing competition in the semiconductor industry.
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. The injunction prevents SGL Carbon, LLC from selling certain wafer carriers—specifically graphite disks used in MOCVD technology—that were designed for use with China Micro-Semiconductor's equipment.
This situation has led to market volatility in China's A-share market. On the 22nd, shares of Aoyang Shunchang, a company that imports MOCVD equipment, experienced multiple daily price limits, while the stock of Huacan Optoelectronics, a major customer of Zhongwei Semiconductor, nearly hit the lower limit.
In response, China Micro-Semiconductor outlined three key strategies to address the challenges: First, they are actively developing alternative suppliers for the second and third channels, aiming to complete product verification within a month and resolve supply issues in two to three months. They expect to resume supplying graphite discs to customers before the Spring Festival. Second, SGL has filed a counterclaim in the U.S., and progress is expected soon. Third, the company has initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Veeco in China.
Zhongwei Semiconductor officially filed the lawsuit against Veeco Shanghai in July this year, accusing the TurboDiskEPIK700 model of MOCVD equipment of infringing on their patented substrate tray synchronization technology. They are seeking an injunction to stop the infringement and demanding 100 million yuan in damages. In response, Veeco Shanghai had previously submitted an invalidation request to the Patent Reexamination Board.
Regarding the recent ruling, Yin Zhiwei, Chairman and CEO of Zhongwei Semiconductor, stated that since its founding in 2004, the company has always prioritized intellectual property rights, focusing on independent technological development and building a strong IP portfolio. He emphasized that the company respects both its own and others' intellectual property. Over the past decade, Zhongwei has successfully navigated several international IP disputes, maintaining a strong and resilient position in the global market.