Spares and consumables are a huge part of the price for any piece of semiconductor capital equipment. They can also be difficult to protect. Knock-offs are common, which reduces revenue for tool manufacturers and potentially causes reliability problems. Michaël De Vroey from European law firm Simont Braun joined Nathaniel Lucek and Elizabeth Morris to share the European perspective on design protection for consumable parts. Manufacturers can protect consumables in Europe with design rights. Michaël discussed the factors that are examined, including the impact of functionality on a consumable’s shape, the visibility requirement, and how a consumable is integrated into a tool. Michaël also discussed the enforcement of design rights in Europe and the “repair clause” in the new EU Design Regulation and Directive.
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