[Invest&Law] Hanmi Semiconductor and Hanwha Semitek Legal Battle over 'TC Bonder' Set to Intensify

Preliminary Hearing Expected Soon
Potential Impact on SK hynix
Semiconductor Industry Watching Closely

The legal dispute between Hanmi Semiconductor and Hanwha Semitek over the TC Bonder, a key piece of equipment essential for the production of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), is expected to enter full-scale proceedings as early as the end of this month.

Hanwha Semitek's TC Bonder Yonhap News

According to the semiconductor industry and other sources on June 11, the 62nd Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court received a notification of a petition from the Korean Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board on May 15 regarding Hanmi Semiconductor's lawsuit against Hanwha Semitek for patent infringement and damages. This was in response to a notice sent by the court to the board a month earlier, informing them that a lawsuit was in progress. With the communication process between the court and the board now complete, it is expected that the court will soon set a preliminary hearing date.

Hanmi Semiconductor filed the lawsuit in December last year, claiming that Hanwha Semitek had used its patented technology to manufacture the TC Bonder. Hanmi Semiconductor alleges that two employees who participated in the development of the TC Bonder at Hanmi Semiconductor moved to Hanwha Semitek, resulting in the leakage of technology. The damages claimed by Hanmi Semiconductor reportedly amount to 2.5 billion won. Hanwha Semitek maintains that Hanmi Semiconductor's claims are close to being false and asserts that the TC Bonder is equipment developed through its own long-term research and development (R&D) efforts.

This case is drawing significant attention within the industry, as it is expected to have a considerable impact on SK hynix, which has become the global leader in the HBM sector. In order to produce and supply the next-generation HBM4, SK hynix has significantly increased the number of TC Bonders it receives from Hanwha Semitek. If Hanwha Semitek loses the lawsuit, it may become difficult for SK hynix to continue sourcing this equipment. Recently, Hanwha Semitek provided land and buildings worth approximately 80.3 billion won to SK hynix as collateral for the fulfillment of supply contracts, a move that analysts interpret as reflecting these concerns.