German Court Bans Micron Technology Over YMTC Patent Infringement

The Munich 1 Regional Court ruled on September 18 that Micron Technology infringed upon two 3D NAND technology patents held by Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC). The court granted injunctions regarding two utility models with 10-year protection periods, a decision that may restrict Micron's ability to supply memory products within Germany and disrupt the broader European NAND market.

This ruling is the latest development in a three-year legal conflict that began in 2023 with a lawsuit in California. The dispute has since expanded to include more than 20 patents across the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and Europe. While the Munich court found against the U.S. firm, seven of the disputed patents in the broader conflict have already been declared invalid.

Micron Technology has denied any wrongdoing and filed an appeal with the Munich Higher Regional Court. The company continues to challenge the validity of the patents through separate international legal proceedings.