ASML
Holding NV and Carl Zeiss SMT announced
that each has signed an agreement with Canon Inc. for the
global cross-license of patents in their respective fields of
semiconductor lithography and optical components, used to manufacture
integrated circuits, or chips.
ASML and Zeiss with their large current research and
development efforts and resulting know how, welcome this agreement with
Canon, with its substantial patent portfolio. There will be no transfer
of technology, which means ASML and Zeiss will continue to compete with
all players in the market on the basis of their capability to bring
leading technologies to market.
The cross-license helps the three companies to compete more
freely in the area relevant to their customers, which is technology
expertise and implementation, rather than on intellectual property (IP)
rights. ASML and Zeiss are strongly committed to investing in research
and development and will continue their build-up of know how and IP.
The agreement means that the companies can market products
based on technology covered by the other party’s lithography
equipment-related patents.