Abstract: Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) mask protection against laser inspection damage is generally described. In one example, a photomask includes a substrate, a bilayer stack coupled with the substrate, the bilayer stack including about 30-50 bilayers wherein the bilayers include alternating films of a first material and a second material, a protective film including polycrystalline carbon coupled with the bilayer stack to protect the bilayer stack against laser inspection damage, and a capping film coupled with the protective film.