LG Energy Secures Victory in Third Lawsuit against Chinese Battery Company Accused of Stealing Intellectual Property
LG Energy Solution Wins Third Legal Victory Against Chinese Battery Manufacturer
In a continued effort to protect its proprietary battery technologies, LG Energy Solution, a leading player in the global battery industry, has won a third legal victory against Sunwoda, a Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer.
The lawsuit, which was decided in a German court on July 17, 2021, concerns battery technology used in prismatic batteries, specifically the electrode assembly structure. The ruling orders a ban on the sale of infringing batteries, a recall and disposal of remaining stock, submission of relevant accounting data, and compensation for damages.
This is not the first time LG Energy Solution has taken action against patent freeloading in the battery industry. In May 2021, the company won two separate patent cases against Sunwoda regarding its safety-reinforced separator coating technology in Germany.
LG Energy Solution's extensive patent portfolio, which includes approximately 40,000 registered patents and 72,000 applications as of February, has identified numerous commercialized products from competitors that infringe on its proprietary battery technologies.
The company, along with patent management and licensing firms like Tulip Innovation, aims to lead the creation of a global battery patent licensing market to ensure fair competition. Tulip Innovation, which licenses a broad patent portfolio covering critical battery tech, has recently secured injunctions against manufacturers like Sunwoda over patented electrode and separator technology crucial for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.
The legal victories against Sunwoda demonstrate LG Energy Solution's commitment to protecting its proprietary technologies. The German court's orders in the previous lawsuits against Sunwoda include similar measures, such as a ban on the sale of infringing batteries, a recall and disposal of remaining stock, submission of relevant accounting data, and compensation for damages.
The major players intensifying global competition for battery patents include Chinese manufacturers Zhuhai CosMX and ATL (Ningde Amperex Technology), Korean LG Energy Solution, and patent management/licensing firms like Tulip Innovation.
ATL (Ningde Amperex Technology) holds important patents protecting lithium-ion battery electrolyte compositions that prevent premature degradation, enhancing battery performance. The company has successfully defended these patents in German courts against CosMX, with ongoing litigation in multiple jurisdictions including China and the US.
Zhuhai CosMX is a significant Chinese competitor actively challenging ATL’s patents, highlighting the intense patent battles between Chinese battery firms.
Meanwhile, emerging players like Graphene Manufacturing Group Limited (GMG) are developing patented alternatives in advanced battery chemistries, signaling ongoing future patent competition beyond lithium-ion. GMG, along with the University of Queensland, hold patents on a graphene aluminium-ion battery, representing innovation in next-generation battery technologies being developed and patented internationally.
The battlegrounds for these patent disputes include key markets like Germany and the US, impacting battery technology commercialization and competition. As the global demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems continues to grow, the race for battery patents is expected to intensify further.
- LG Energy Solution, a significant player in the global battery industry, has used financing from its extensive patent portfolio, which includes approximately 40,000 registered patents and 72,000 applications, to fund its legal battles against businesses like Sunwoda, aiming to protect its proprietary battery technologies and lead the creation of a global battery patent licensing market.
- In the rapidly evolving business landscape of technology, especially within the battery industry, patent battles between key manufacturers such as ATL (Ningde Amperex Technology), LG Energy Solution, Zhuhai CosMX, and emerging players like Graphene Manufacturing Group Limited (GMG) are intensifying, with the race for battery patents expected to further heat up as the demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems grows.
