UPDATE 1-Nova Measuring gets motion for stay in lawsuit

(Adds details, CEO quote)

JERUSALEM, March 5 (Reuters) - Israel-based Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (NVMI.O) (NVMI.TA) said a U.S. judge granted its motion for a stay in the patent litigation case brought by Nanometrics Inc. (NANO.O).

The judge granted the stay pending completion of the re-examination process of the patent in the lawsuit by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Nova's statement said.

In late March 2006, Nova was served with a complaint alleging that certain of its products sold in the U.S. infringed intellectual property rights of Nanometrics.

In reply, Nova filed a request for re-examination of the Nanometrics' patent with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), which was accepted by the PTO for review in December 2006.

"We are pleased by this ruling and believe that the ultimate outcome of this matter will demonstrate that Nanometrics' patent is invalid and its claims are without merit," Gabi Seligsohn, President and CEO of Nova said in a statement.