Micron Technology has filed a lawsuit against YMTC, alleging that the Chinese company systematically recruited its former engineers to misappropriate NAND memory production technologies. According to the filing, YMTC allegedly used these hires to file patents based on Micron's proprietary developments, subsequently using these patents to initiate legal action against the American manufacturer.
The dispute centers on claims that former Micron employees, including at least three individuals who moved to YMTC, accessed sensitive technical data stored on Micron's servers before their departure. Micron asserts that YMTC's innovation strategy, starting from 64-layer 3D NAND technology, relied heavily on this transferred information. Micron is now seeking court intervention to transfer ownership of these disputed patents back to itself.
The legal conflict between the two companies has been ongoing since 2023 across multiple jurisdictions. Micron has actively defended its interests since 2024, successfully invalidating seven YMTC patents. Conversely, a German court recently ruled in favor of YMTC regarding two patent claims, potentially restricting the sale of certain Micron products in Germany. Micron is currently appealing this decision.
The broader confrontation includes multiple international lawsuits. In July, Micron sued YMTC in Germany, naming Apacer, Lexar, and Ultron as co-defendants for distributing products allegedly utilizing stolen technology. A similar lawsuit was filed in the UK, involving TeamGroup. Tensions escalated in December 2022 when the US added YMTC to a sanctions list, followed by China restricting the use of Micron memory in critical infrastructure in May.
