By Tony Hallett, 1 September 1998 16:57
NEWS Siemens and its troubled chip-making subsidiary Siemens Microelectronics is suing fellow DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) producer LG Semicon for allegedly violating seven patents relating to 16MB and 64MB chips. Siemens is calling for the South Korean chips company to cease making DRAM devices which use the patents. It is also seeking damages. Andreas von Zitzewitz, president of memory products at Siemens Semiconductor Group, said: "Siemens vigorously defends and protects its intellectual property. We have invested substantial resources in designing, developing, patenting and manufacturing DRAMs and have a strong patent portfolio representing billions of dollars of research and development investment. We will not let LG Semicon use unlicensed intellectual property developed and paid for by Siemens." A spokesman for LG Semicon in Seoul told Silicon News: "We haven't received the official documents from the courts, either here or at our US business, so we haven't checked the lawsuit's details yet." A response is expected shortly. Siemens chips business has had a torrid time of late. After group CEO Heinrich von Pierer admitted the unit is likely to lose more than $570m this fiscal year, the company announced the closure of its 16MB DRAM fabrication plant on Tyneside, with the loss of over 1,000 jobs. Although Siemens and the UK government are looking for a 'white knight' buyer for the facility, analysts have said the company - along with others in the business - may even have to shut more plants before market conditions improve.
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