The Munich Regional Court I in Germany ruled on September 18 that Micron infringed upon two utility model patents held by YMTC. The court issued an injunction prohibiting the sale of the infringing products within Germany. The patents in question relate to 3D memory device structures and word line contact barrier layers.
This decision marks the first major legal victory for YMTC in its global patent dispute with Micron, which escalated in November 2023. The court also held hearings on three additional lawsuits involving YMTC and Micron, but those cases were postponed without a substantive ruling.
Micron has formally challenged the German court's decision and filed an appeal. The company noted that the German utility models were registered without substantive examination. Legal experts suggest that the enforcement of the injunction depends on whether the Higher Regional Court of Munich decides to stay the execution during the appeal process.
The global patent conflict between the two companies has been ongoing for nearly three years, spanning courts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Micron has also filed a countersuit against YMTC in Idaho, alleging the theft of trade secrets, with proceedings ongoing.
According to TrendForce, YMTC ranked third globally in the NAND Flash market by revenue and shipment volume in the first quarter of 2026. As of March 31, 2026, YMTC reported holding 6,088 authorized patents, including over 2,000 patents related to its proprietary Xtacking architecture.
