Preliminary Injunction Granted against TechWing in Taiwan for Alleged Infringement of Advantest Patents

Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857, NYSE: ATE), the global leader in semiconductor test systems, has announced that on July 5, 2007, the Hsinchu District Court (Hsinchu City, Taiwan) granted a preliminary injunction against TechWing, Inc. (CEO: Jae-Gyun Shim, headquarters: Hwaseong City, Republic of Korea; hereafter TechWing), following a petition filed by Advantest on February 8, 2006.

The said petition alleges that TechWing infringed patents registered in Taiwan by Advantest (nos. 086750*, 111444*, and 106527*). These patents cover basic design of semiconductor test handler structure. The Hsinchu District Court accepted Advantest’s petition and granted a preliminary injunction, under which TechWing will be barred from and forced to suspend the manufacture, offer for sale, sale, use or importation of any test handler of the model nos. TW282, TW292, TW320 and related models of the series, and will be prevented from practicing or otherwise infringing any of these patents, until any final resolution on this patent dispute. In Taiwan, Advantest is planning to file a lawsuit against TechWing that will encompass any semiconductor test handlers (including these models and any other models) that may infringe the patents, requesting that TechWing cease and desist from such infringement, and seeking damages. Advantest is also considering the possibility of taking actions in other countries where it has applicable patents registered.