On the 24th, the semiconductor industry once again became the focus of attention. Bloomberg reported, citing an email from a spokesperson for the American semiconductor giant Micron Technology, which revealed that Micron Technology and Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit *** have reached a global settlement agreement. This news was like a thunderstorm on the ground, which immediately aroused widespread attention and discussion inside and outside the industry.
Back in 2016, Taiwan UMC and Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd. jointly signed a technical cooperation agreement. This agreement symbolizes that the two parties will work together to overcome the difficulties of 32nm DRAM process technology and open a new chapter in the development of the semiconductor industry. However, with the departure of three Micron executives and the joining of UMC, a battle for trade secrets has quietly begun.
Micron filed a lawsuit against UMC and Fujian Jinhua in 2017, accusing the two companies of stealing trade secrets. This move was like throwing a stone to ask for directions, causing an uproar in the semiconductor industry. Over the years, Micron Technology has pursued these two companies around the world, and Fujian Jinhua is not to be outdone, countersuing Micron Technology for alleged infringement of products sold in China. The two sides come and go,-for-tat, and the courtroom is filled with gunsmoke.
However, after years of legal battles, UMC and Micron announced a settlement in 2021. The settlement has opened up a new opportunity for both parties, and U.S. prosecutors have agreed to drop charges against UMC on charges of economic espionage and other crimes. The Bloomberg report on the 24th further revealed that Micron Technology and Fujian Jinhua have reached a global settlement agreement. The agreement marks the end of previous lawsuits against each other and the withdrawal of the charges against each other globally.
According to Bloomberg, about 25% of Micron's total global revenue comes from the Chinese market. This data is enough to show the importance of the Chinese market to Micron Technology. Since the beginning of this year, Micron Technology has begun to actively repair its relationship with China and increase investment in China. In June, Micron announced plans to invest more than CNY4.3 billion in its Xi'an plant over the next few years to boost its production capacity and technology in China. In November, Sanjay Mehrotla, CEO of Micron Technology, visited China in person and met with Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce. During the meeting, Mehrotra expressed its willingness to continue to expand its investment in China and emphasized the importance of the Chinese market to Micron's global strategy.
The global settlement agreement between Micron Technology and Fujian Jinhua and the increase of Micron Technology's investment in China have undoubtedly brought new changes and opportunities to the semiconductor industry. This incident is not only about the commercial interests of the two companies, but also reflects the coexistence and interdependence of competition and cooperation between enterprises in the context of globalization. At the same time, it also reflects the important position of the Chinese market in the global semiconductor industry chain and the importance and expectations of international enterprises to the Chinese market.
In the future, with the continuous development of semiconductor technology and the continuous change of market demand, the competition and cooperation between enterprises will become more fierce and complex. In this process, reconciliation and cooperation may become an effective way to resolve disputes and achieve win-win results. Let's wait and see how the semiconductor industry writes a new chapter.