Posted January 30, 2002 Manufacturing News ITC to Investigate Certain Microlithographic Machines and Components The U.S. International Trade Commission (www.usitc.gov) has voted to institute an investigation of certain microlithographic machines and components thereof. The products at issue in this investigation are used in the manufacture of microelectronic devices such as microprocessors and memory chips. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Nikon Corp. (Tokyo; www.nikon.co.jp), Nikon Precision Inc. (Belmont, Calif.; www.nikonprecision.com) and Nikon Research Corporation of America (Belmont, Calif.) on December 21, 2001. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 in the importation and sale of certain microlithographic machines that infringe U.S. patents owned by the complainants. Nikon requests the ITC issue a permanent exclusion order and a permanent cease and desist order. The ITC has identified ASM Lithography Holding N.V. (Veldhoven, The Netherlands; www.asml.com), ASM Lithography B.V. (Veldhoven, The Netherlands) and ASM Lithography, Inc. (Tempe, Ariz.) as respondents in the investigation. The case will be referred to the Honorable Paul J. Luckern, an ITC administrative law judge, who will make an initial determination as to whether there is a violation of section 337. That initial determination is subject to review by the Commission. Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the ITC will set a target date for completing the investigation. The Manufacturing Report © Copyright 2002 by Lionheart Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. E-mail Editorial Dept: tmr-editorial@lionhrtpub.com Lionheart Publishing, Inc. 2555 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 299, Atlanta, GA 30339 USA Phone: 770-431-0867 | Fax: 770-432-6969 E-mail: lpi@lionhrtpub.com