Rendering of LG Chem’s exhibition booth at “Chinaplas 2025″ (Image provided by LG Chem)
SEOUL, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — LG Chem has suffered a legal blow in China, where its key battery patent has been invalidated amid a widening intellectual property battle with Chinese rival Longbai, escalating tensions in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.
According to industry sources, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently ruled to nullify LG Chem’s patent related to the manufacturing method and cathode material used in lithium-ion batteries. The agency cited insufficient detail in the patent documentation, arguing it failed to enable technical reproducibility.
While the patent challenge was filed under an individual’s name, industry observers believe it is part of a broader legal clash between LG Chem and Longbai. In 2024, LG Chem filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Seoul Central District Court against JaeSeNengWon, Longbai’s Korean subsidiary, accusing it of unlawfully using LG Chem’s nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode material technology.
Cathode materials account for roughly 40% of a battery’s production cost and play a critical role in determining energy density and life span. LG Chem reportedly based its lawsuit on an analysis of Longbai’s sample materials, which allegedly infringed on several of its patents.
The invalidated Chinese patent is effectively the counterpart to the patent currently under litigation in South Korea, suggesting China’s move may be a retaliatory response to LG Chem’s legal action. Analysts warn that Longbai could leverage the Chinese ruling in its defense during the ongoing Korean lawsuit.
This marks the first instance of a major cross-border patent dispute between South Korean and Chinese firms in the EV battery sector, setting a potential precedent for future litigation over cathode material technologies.
South Korean battery makers have grown increasingly vocal about what they see as the unchecked proliferation of IP infringement by emerging Chinese competitors. In response, they are ramping up legal efforts to protect core technologies amid intensifying global competition.
LG Chem said it is considering an appeal, emphasizing that differences in legal standards and patent systems across jurisdictions mean the Chinese decision will not affect the company’s other patents or business operations elsewhere.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
