China's leading memory chip maker YMTC sues Micron for patent infringement in US

By Li Panpan

(JW Insights) Nov 13 -- China's leading memory chip producer Yangtze Memory Technologies Co (YMTC) filed a lawsuit against US-based Micron Technology and its wholly owned subsidiary, Micron Consumer Products Group, on November 9 for infringement of eight of YMTC's patents, according to the official website of the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

YMTC said the lawsuit was meant to end Micron's widespread and unauthorized use of its patented innovations. YMTC cited Micron's illegal use of its patented technology to fend off market competition and gain and protect market share.

The lawsuit seeks to address Micron's attempt to prevent competition and innovation by forcing YMTC out of the 3D NAND Flash market, said the Chinese company.

YMTC noted that it is no longer a new market entrant but has become a significant player in the global 3D NAND market.

YMTC quoted TechInsights, a company that analyzes and tracks the flash memory market, in a last November report with the conclusion that the Chinese company was the leader in the 3D NAND flash memory sector, outpacing Micron.

In 2018, YMTC mass-produced its first-generation 32-layer 3D NAND flash chips, and in 2020 developed two 128-layer flash products. In October 2022, the US government issued an export control regulation restricting the export of chip manufacturing equipment to China. The US added YMTC to its entity list for export controls in December, 2022.