The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on April 21, 2026, affirmed a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that invalidated two semiconductor patents held by Katana Silicon Technologies. The ruling represents a final legal victory for Micron Technology Inc. in a long-standing dispute over integrated circuit manufacturing technology. The appellate court’s decision upheld the PTAB’s finding that the claims in the contested patents were obvious over prior art, effectively ending Katana’s ability to seek infringement damages for those specific assets.
The dispute originated when Katana Silicon Technologies, a non-practicing entity, initiated litigation against Micron, alleging that the memory chip manufacturer had infringed upon U.S. Patent Nos. 6,344,672 and 6,737,698. These patents describe specific methods for forming metal interconnects and insulating layers within semiconductor devices, technologies critical to the production of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash memory. Katana sought significant royalties and damages based on Micron’s multi-billion dollar annual sales of these components.
Micron countered the lawsuit by filing for inter partes review at the PTAB, a common strategy used by technology companies to challenge the validity of patents outside of traditional district court litigation. In its petitions, Micron presented evidence that the techniques described in Katana’s patents were already known to the industry through earlier publications and patents. The PTAB agreed, ruling in its final written decision that the claimed inventions lacked the requisite novelty and non-obviousness required under U.S. patent law.
On appeal, Katana argued that the PTAB had incorrectly interpreted the technical scope of the patent claims and had ignored evidence of secondary considerations, such as the industry's long-felt need for the technology. The Federal Circuit panel dismissed these arguments, stating that the PTAB’s analysis was thorough and supported by expert testimony. The court’s summary affirmance reinforces the high bar for non-practicing entities to maintain patent validity when challenged by established manufacturers with extensive prior art resources.
Micron, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies, reporting $25.14 billion in revenue for its most recent full fiscal year. The company has maintained a rigorous legal strategy to protect its operational freedom. This ruling follows a broader trend in the semiconductor industry where major players like Samsung Electronics and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. have also faced and successfully challenged patent claims from Katana. Legal counsel for Micron noted that the decision ensures the company can continue its manufacturing processes without the burden of licensing fees for invalidated intellectual property.