# Musk's Terafab chip factory sued over its name

> Elon Musk's new chip factory faces a trademark battle with an Illinois company that's used a similar name for a decade.
- Title: Musk's Terafab chip factory sued over its name · PCMAG
- Summary: Elon Musk's new chip factory faces a trademark battle with an Illinois company that's used a similar name for a decade. Two companies with completely…
- Keywords: elon musk, spacex, tesla, terafab, tera-print, trademark dispute, chip factory, semiconductor manufacturing, legal battle, texas, technology, Musk's
- Source: PCMAG — https://pcmag.com/news/elon-musks-terafab-chip-factory-faces-legal-battle-over-its-name
- Author: Michael Kan
- Published: 2026-09-16T20:19:06+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elon musk, spacex, tesla, terafab, tera-print, trademark dispute, chip factory, semiconductor manufacturing, legal battle, texas, technology
## Musk's chip factory faces name lawsuit
Elon Musk's upcoming Terafab chip factory in Texas is being sued by Illinois-based Tera-Print, which claims the name infringes its decade-old trademark for photolithography machines.
## Tera-Print sent cease-and-desist in May
After Musk announced Terafab in March, Tera-Print demanded the companies stop using the name and threatened to sue for trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition.

> TERA-print claimed that Plaintiffs' use of Terafab is likely to cause confusion with TERA-print's TERA-FAB line of products
## Two completely different products
Musk's Terafab makes large-scale semiconductor chips for AI, robotics and space tech. Tera-Print sells a tabletop printer that etches microscopic designs onto surfaces for bioengineering labs.

> TERA-print does not work in chip design, logic, memory, or packaging
## Tera-Print claims 10-year history
Co-founder Andrey Ivankin says his company has used TERA-FAB as its trademark for over 10 years and now has a major Defense Department contract to fabricate semiconductors.

> TERA-FAB as its trademark for over 10 years, as part of its ongoing and evolving business
## Settlement talks broke down
Tesla offered to settle but then filed the lawsuit anyway. Ivankin says Tesla misled his company by expressing willingness to negotiate while racing to court.

> Having been misled by Tesla's professed interest in settling this matter, Tera-print will now vigorously defend its rights
## Both have registered trademarks
Tesla holds the trademark for Terafab covering semiconductor chips and microchips. Tera-Print holds Tera-fab for silicon chips, glass chips, and 3D micro-printers.
## Musk seeks court declaration
SpaceX and Tesla want the court to rule that Terafab does not infringe Tera-Print's rights. Without this, they say they face a continuing legal cloud over the project.

> Without declaratory relief, Plaintiffs face a continuing cloud over their ability to develop, protect, and use the Tesla TERAFAB Marks
## Key takeaway

Two companies with completely different products are fighting over nearly identical trademark names, forcing a court to decide if confusion is likely.