Hanwha Q Cells Wins Patent Infringement Suit in Germany

This undated photo provided by Hanwha Q Cells shows the company’s plant in Jincheon, 90 kilometers south of Seoul.

SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Hanwha Q Cells, a South Korean solar cells and modules manufacturer, said Friday that it has won a patent infringement suit in Germany in a case that could boost its presence in the European country.

The Regional Court of Düsseldorf in Germany has ruled that three companies — JinkoSolar GmbH, REC Solar EMEA GmbH and LONGi Solar Technologie GmbH — breached Hanwha Q Cells’ intellectual property rights by unlawfully incorporating Hanwha Q Cells’ patented passivation technology into their solar cells.

The technology can significantly increase the efficiency of solar cells, according to Hanwha Q Cells.

The court ruled that the three accused companies are legally obliged to take measures to recall the patent-infringing products distributed since January 30, 2019, from distribution channels.

It also granted a claim for destruction of patent-infringing products in possession of JinkoSolar, REC and LONGi Solar.

Daniel Jeong, chief technology officer of Q CELLS, welcomed the court decision.

“We are pleased that the Regional Court of Düsseldorf has confirmed what we knew to be true all along,” Jeong said in a comment provided by the company.

Jeong also said Q Cells will continue to take all necessary actions, including direct litigation, as well as industry dialogue, if and when its rights are violated by another party in other regions.

(Yonhap)