U.S. research foundation files lawsuit against Japan's JSR

JSR

02/02/2024 07:48

By Sam Nussey and Makiko Yamazaki
       TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - A New York university-connected
research foundation has filed a lawsuit against Japan chip
materials maker JSR  4185.T , court documents show, saying the
company has commercialised its technology without permission. 
    JSR is a top manufacturer of photoresists, which are
chemicals used in chipmaking, with its U.S. subsidiary Inpria
working on metal oxide resists for use in extreme ultraviolet
(EUV) lithography for production of advanced chips. 
    The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
says its researchers made advances in tin oxide metal
photoresists and Inpria is commercialising its intellectual
property (IP) without permission. 
    JSR told Reuters it considers the lawsuit to be without
merit and internal investigations have not uncovered any
improper activities related to Inpria. 
    "Inpria is a former university spin-out with deep roots in
academic research on metal oxides stretching back two decades,"
JSR said. 
    JSR agreed last June to be bought by a government-backed
fund in a deal that has been met with surprise, with some
industry executives questioning the need for such an
intervention.
    The company expects the tender offer for its shares to begin
in late February at the earliest. 
    The research foundation says it is seeking a preliminary
injunction to prevent transfer of challenged patents to Japan
Investment Corp (JIC) and that its IP has been valued at $2.4
billion to $4.3 billion. 

 (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by
Lincoln Feast.)
 ((sam.nussey@tr.com;))