Rewrite the Technological Landscape

Meng Qian's dominance quickly spread throughout Silicon Valley. Weeks must have told Intel they were in such a predicament. This matter has indeed received great attention. Now, what does this mean that Intel is like a mirror.

But there are some things that Intel can't handle in a while.

On February 18th, China’s New Year’s Eve, a good news came from Pizza Hut in Hangzhou. The court confirmed ASML’s long-term infringement and fined ASML to pay Dafeng Group 2 billion yuan in compensation. Gale Group suspended the production and sale of lithography machines before the patent authorization.

This should be placed on other companies, and ASML will obediently lose money and buy patent authorization, and the matter will be over, but the problem is that Meng Qian is not willing to provide technology authorization to ASML.

Weeks contacted Meng Qian again, but Meng Qian still had the same attitude, we can authorize, we can even cooperate, but the premise is that you have to enter my rules.

Seeing that the situation was at a stalemate, seven days later, as soon as the Chinese New Year holiday ended, the European Union suddenly jumped out. The European Union was going to investigate the Dafeng Group for the reason of monopoly.

In fact, many people have wondered whether ASML is not a monopoly, and why Huaxia did not sue ASML. First of all, ASML has secretly changed a concept, that is, ASML lithography machines only have a monopoly on high-end lithography machines. status, but there is no monopoly in the lithography machine market, the EU has investigated, and the final conclusion is that ASML has no monopoly in the lithography machine market,

Secondly, because the development of semiconductors is inseparable from high-end lithography machines, no country dares to sue ASML. Whoever sues ASML will have even more reason not to provide you with high-end lithography machines in the future.

Finally, there is another key point. When the European Union ruled that ASML was not involved in monopoly, there was a saying that OMI-related companies recognized ASML’s business practices.

Omi semiconductor companies do not say anything, who will say anything.

But it is obviously ambiguous whether to monopolize or not to monopolize this thing. When the situation is not good for them, the hat of monopoly will start to be put on the head of Dafeng Group.

The re-emergence of variables made the public's attention once again shifted to the Dafeng Group.

Three days later, Dafeng Group gave the most direct response. The first mass-produced commercial EUV lithography machine of Shanghai Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. came.

At the press conference, Guan Xiangwen from Shanghai Microelectronics introduced the product parameters and characteristics of the EUV lithography machine to everyone, and then directly gave the next market order arrangement.

The first EUV lithography machine was sold to Gale Semiconductor, the second EUV lithography machine was sold to TSMC, the third EUV lithography machine was sold to SMIC, and the fourth EUV lithography machine was sold to Sony .

After the official launch of the EUV lithography machine, Guan Xiangwen said at the scene, "Our current annual output of EUV lithography machines is 10 units. We welcome major chip manufacturers around the world to come to negotiate and purchase. The world opens up."

Guan Xiangwen expressed his attitude to the world. Although the recent quarrel between the Dafeng Group and American technology companies is a bit serious, the products of the Dafeng Group are still open, and anyone can buy them, even you Intel can come to buy them.

But the problem is that if Intel comes to buy Dafeng Group's lithography machine, this matter will make people feel uncomfortable. Aren't you going to target them, and you still go to buy other people's lithography machines, what about your face?

The anti-monopoly investigation will take some time from the official confirmation of the investigation to the end of the investigation. Meng Qian first took out the lithography machine to cause market shocks.

After the press conference of Shanghai Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., Meng Qian worried that the pressure on the market would not be enough, so he specially asked Dafeng Semiconductor to hold a press conference. Liang Mengsong first showed everyone a market share chart on the spot .

In the 2014 global chip foundry share ranking list, TSMC ranked first with 42%, Gale Semiconductor ranked second with 17%, Samsung ranked third with 10%, and SMIC ranked third with 7%. Fourth, UMC ranked fifth with 6%.

Intel did not come up with accurate official data because it had just opened to work.

After reading this data, Liang Mengsong disclosed part of the development blueprint of Gale Semiconductor on the spot, and confirmed to the market that Gale Semiconductor will use EUV technology on 7nm. This is the first company in the world to confirm that it will use EUV technology on 7nm. EUV technology companies.

Although EUV is just a technology and will not affect the final chip quality, it is undeniable that using EUV earlier will have a better chance of promoting the progress of chip technology.

The whole world knows that in 2015, the chip will be in the 10nm era. According to Liang Mengsong, Dafeng Semiconductor is about to adopt EUV in the next generation process, and Dafeng Semiconductor has already grasped the opportunity to master EUV technology.

And at this time, there is no need to worry about telling this matter. It is already 2015, and it is too late for Intel to change the development blueprint of the 7nm process.

However, the pressure on Liang Mengsong does not stop there. Liang Mengsong said at the Dafeng Semiconductor Development Blueprint Exhibition, "With the use of EUV lithography machines, we are expected to advance the semiconductor process to 3nm within five years."

All semiconductor companies will take a look at their own development blueprint and compare it with Dafeng Semiconductor. This comparison is naturally a little bit behind the pace of Dafeng Semiconductor, if Dafeng Semiconductor is not bragging.

It is precisely because of this that the pressure on Gale Semiconductor is actually given to the entire market.

Soon, TSMC made a clear statement to the outside world that TSMC will definitely use EUV technology on the 7nm process, but it is likely to be used together with new and old technologies.

On the other hand, Sony made a high-profile voice in Neon Country, saying that Sony has quietly invested in the construction of two factories in the past two years, and is waiting for the EUV lithography machine. Sony will hit the top five global chip foundry companies and confirm that it will EUV technology is used in the 7nm process, and Sony also confirmed that it has purchased an EUV lithography machine.

The neon country occupies a large number of chip design orders, but because the neon country cannot produce a decent chip foundry, these orders have been taken away by China and Korea all the year round. Now that Sony has stepped forward, it is a great deal for the neon country. A very exciting thing, and Sony's stock has risen sharply for three consecutive days.

The market also understands a truth from the voices of TSMC and Sony, and the partners of Dafeng Group are all stained.

On the contrary, companies such as Intel, Samsung, and Gaota Semiconductor are in a state of staring at this time.

"Can the EU speed up?" Lee Jae-yong asked directly, "I didn't expect Meng Qian to respond in such a way. The speed of action was too fast."

Intel's Krzanick said realistically, "It's not up to us to decide, and even if the Gale Group is really awarded a monopoly, the Gale Group can use compensation to delay time."

"The more important issue now is that the court's judgment on ASML is very unfavorable. According to the anti-monopoly law, although it can pressure Dafeng Group to provide technology authorization, if Dafeng Group continues to focus on ASML's infringement, ASML will still It's hard to get out of legal comfort."

"Can't we appeal?"

"The legal department of Dafeng Group is more difficult than expected."

"What if we go to the court?" Li Zairong hinted at the two people around him with his eyes.

However, Krzynick gave Li Zairong a blank stare, "You don't really think that we can be above the law without taboo? This is the country of America, not Korea!"

Li Jae-yong also realized that this is not the country of Korea, and asked somewhat dejectedly, "Then what should we do now?"

"Actually, Dafeng Group is willing to sell lithography machines. Once the product is bought, it will be bought. Dafeng Group will not have any other restrictions in the future. The equipment is already in our hands." Gaota Semiconductor finally I spoke.

"But it will be a permanent hidden danger." It is clear that Krzanick is not very willing to accept this fact.

"What I mean is to paralyze the Gale Group with this first, and to solve the problem of Asmail later."

All three fell into silence. At this moment, Li Zayong received the latest news, and he was so surprised that he subconsciously patted the table.

"What's wrong?"

Li Zayong said in a deep voice, "That bastard, Dongfang Hi-Tech went to purchase a lithography machine from Dafeng Group!"

Thank you kasimking for your tip! Thank you Dashan Dashan for your silly tip!