China's YMTC claims Micron infringed on its 3D NAND patents

The Chinese company is now alleging that US-based competitor Micron Technology has been using its innovations in 3D NAND technology without paying its fair share. China's largest flash memory maker Yangtze Memory Technologies Co is suing Micron Technology for patent infringement. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and targets Micron and its Micron Consumer Products subsidiary. YMTC claims the two organizations infringed on no less than eight of its patents about architectural, power management, operational, and manufacturing techniques for 96-, 128-, 176- and 232-layer 3D NAND chips. A YMTC spokesperson told Reuters the company expects a swift resolution for the patent dispute, while Micron has yet to provide an official statement on the matter. The patents in question seem to describe key aspects of NAND technology that all major players employ when developing their memory products. Despite seeing its orders plunge in the region, Micron is still trying to mend its relations with China and is looking to invest 4.3 billion yuan into expanding its Xi'an factory in the Shaanxi province.