Nikon Corporation filed a complaint in Japan and in Korea

On October 7, 2002, Nikon Corporation has filed a patent infringement complaint in the Tokyo District Court, Japan against ASML Netherlands B.V., a Dutch corporation, ("ASML") asserting infringement of twelve of Nikon's Japanese patents by stepper and scanner machines (used by manufacturers in the fabrication of a variety of devices, including most notably integrated circuits) manufactured by ASML. Nikon is seeking an injunction and money damages.

Additionally, on October 8, 2002, Nikon Corporation has filed a patent infringement complaint in the Seoul District Court, Republic of Korea against ASML and three other related companies asserting infringement of five of Nikon's Korean patents by stepper and scanner machines manufactured by ASML. Nikon is seeking an injunction and money damages.

The patents in question relate to primary structures in stepper and scanner machines.

Nikon's corporate objective is to provide the leading products to customers in the semiconductor industry through fair competition in the marketplace. Such fair competition is based on the premise that each competitor respects the intellectual property rights of the other competitors. Because ASML did not live up to this, Nikon filed the above patent infringement lawsuits against ASML. Nikon has already filed a complaint against ASML in the U.S. International Trade Commission and a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Nikon remains confident in the outcome of the litigations and expects that fair competition will be restored to the marketplace.