ZEI: Nikons legal action unfounded: ZEI considers Nikons legal action over patent unfounded

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 24.04.2017.

ZEISS confirms that Nikon has announced in a press release its intention to file legal claims for alleged patent infringement against Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH. ZEISS carefully monitors and respects patents and categorically denies any infringement allegations.

As a technological driver of the semiconductor industry, ZEISS relies on innovation and cooperation as well as the acceptance of intellectual property as the basis of its work. Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH and its strategic partner ASML hold thousands of patents in many different countries. ZEISS considers patent litigation as harmful for the entire semiconductor industry as it keeps manufacturers from fulfilling their responsibility to drive lithography technology forward for the benefit of chip makers.

Therefore, ZEISS offered Nikon to continue the cross license agreement which expired at the end of 2014 and which granted the mutual use of patents. ZEISS is disappointed that Nikon did not make any serious efforts to negotiate and has opted for legal actions instead.

Press Contact:

J rg Nitschke

Group Spokesman

ZEISS Group

Phone: +49 7364 20-3242

Fax:

joerg.nitschke@zeiss.com

About ZEISS:

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. The ZEISS Group develops, produces and distributes measuring technology, microscopes, medical technology, eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. With its solutions, the company constantly advances the world of optics and helps shape technological progress.

ZEISS is divided up into the four segments Research & Quality Technology, Medical Technology, Vision Care/Consumer Products and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. The ZEISS Group is represented in over 40 countries and has more than 50 sales and service locations, upwards of 30 manufacturing sites and about 25 research and development facilities around the globe. In fiscal year 2015/16, the company generated revenue approximating 4.9 billion euros with around 25,000 employees. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is the strategic management holding company that manages the ZEISS Group. The company is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

Further informationen at www.zeiss.de/en

Number: 0042-2017-ENG CC

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