News Release

JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Shigeru Oi) (“JX”) notifies, as described below, that JX has filed with Tokyo District Court a petition seeking preliminary injunctive relief and a lawsuit against Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Keiji Nishida) (“Mitsui”) based on the reason that each product of the ultra-thin electrolytic copper foil with carrier manufactured and sold by Mitsui (Product Names: MT18FL, MT18Ex, FSP501) (the “Products”) infringes one or more of the patent rights held by JX described below※.

 

Although JX has been sincerely trying to negotiate with Mitsui since October 2018, JX has not been able to receive a positive response from Mitsui even today, and as a result, JX has been compelled to file the above-mentioned petition for preliminary injunctive relief and lawsuit.

 

Although the amount sued for is about 5 billion yen at present, JX is also considering to increase the amount to tens of billions of yen depending on the development of the court proceedings.

 

Furthermore, because Mitsui is also manufacturing and selling the Products outside Japan, JX will continue to examine the possibility of exercising its rights in respect of the Products, even outside Japan, pursuant to the patent rights JX holds.

 

Intellectual property rights constitute important assets of JX, and JX is determined to continue to implement appropriate measures, including taking legal actions, against any infringement of these rights, whether within or outside Japan.

 

※ The patent rights in respect of which JX has filed a petition for preliminary injunctive relief or a lawsuit thus far are as described below; however, because the patent rights, including foreign patent rights, in respect of which JX is examining the possibility of infringement by Mitsui are not limited to them, JX believes it is possible, depending on the situation in the future, JX files additional petitions for preliminary injunctive relief and lawsuits.

 

(1) Patent Number 5470487

(2) Patent Number 3258308

(3) Patent Number 3330925

(4) Patent Number 5481577

(5) Patent Number 5481591

(6) Patent Number 5286443

(7) Patent Number 5373993