Nikon Corporation filed a complaint in the U.S. International Trade Commission

Nikon Corporation of Japan announced on 21 December, 2001 EST that it and its wholly-owned subsidiaries located in Belmont, California, Nikon Precision Inc. and Nikon Research Corporation of America, have filed a complaint in the U.S. International Trade Commission against ASM Lithography Holding N.V., ASM Lithography B.V., both Dutch corporations, and ASM Lithography, Inc., a U.S. company wholly-owned by ASM Lithography Holding N.V., pursuant to section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

Nikon Corporation's complaint requests an investigation by the ITC into unlawful importation into the United States of stepper and scanner machines by ASM Lithography Holding N.V., ASM Lithography B.V., and ASM Lithography, Inc. ("ASML"), that infringe certain of Nikon's U.S. patents. Such machines are used by manufacturers in the fabrication of a variety of devices, including most notably integrated circuits. Nikon is seeking an exclusion order from the ITC to prevent any further importation by ASML of the infringing stepper and scanner machines.

Nikon Corporation and Nikon Precision Inc. simultaneously filed a patent infringement action against ASM Lithography B.V. and ASM Lithography, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, asserting infringement of additional Nikon patents. In the U.S. District Court action, Nikon Corporation and Nikon Precision Inc. are seeking an injunction and money damages.