As nanotech applications become more powerful and more abundant, so do the battles among industry leaders to stake their claims in the nano-game.

Witness Cabot Microelectronics' recent decision to pursue legal action against DuPont Air Products NanoMaterials (DA Nano) and Korea's Cheil Industries. Cabot claims DA Nano is manufacturing and marketing slurries that infringe on its patents.

"We believe certain of DA Nano's products infringe our tungsten CMP technology," said H. Carol Bernstein, Cabot Microelectronics' Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, "and we are disappointed that thus far they have refused to switch to non-infringing technology. We look forward to the successful resolution of this litigation."