Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH files patent infringement complaint with the Regional Court of Düsseldorf in Germany against JinkoSolar and REC Group
BERLIN, Germany, March 5, 2019 – Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH announced that it has filed a patent infringement complaint with the Regional Court of Düsseldorf against JinkoSolar and REC Group on March 4, 2019. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. and Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc. (collectively with Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH, “Hanwha Q CELLS”) also filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) against JinkoSolar, REC Group, and LONGi Solar. Additionally, Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. filed related patent infringement complaints with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against the same companies.
The Regional Court complaint alleges that JinkoSolar and REC Group are unlawfully importing and selling solar cells and modules that infringe Hanwha Q CELLS patented passivation technology. JinkoSolar and REC Group have unlawfully incorporated this patented passivation technology – which plays an important role in improving the efficiency and performance of solar cells – into their solar cells. Hanwha Q CELLS began manufacturing Q.ANTUM solar cells using this passivation technology in 2012 and has produced more than 2.5 billion such cells globally. Hanwha Q CELLS seeks an order to stop JinkoSolar and REC Group from importing, marketing, and selling the infringing products in Germany.
“Intellectual property laws exist to incentivize innovation and protect innovations from being unfairly used, and we will vigorously defend our technology from infringement,” said Hee Cheul (Charles) Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. “Our high-quality photovoltaic products have established us as an industry leader, and we are proud of our legacy of innovation. We have taken these actions both to protect our property rights and to give the market confidence that research and development initiatives to develop future technologies can continue.”
For additional information on this matter, please visit www.q-cellsip.com.
About Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH
Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH is the German subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH is responsible for the R&D, sale, and installation of a full spectrum of solar components—from modules and kits to systems and large-scale solar power plants—across all European markets, as well as Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa. Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH’s parent company, Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd., has diverse international manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China.
About Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp.
Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. is a photovoltaic manufacturer with business operations in South Korea and manufacturing facilities in the United States (Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc.) and South Korea. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. offers a full spectrum of photovoltaic products, applications, and solutions, from cells and modules to kits, and large-scale solar power plants. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental, and residential markets.
About Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc.
Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc. is located in Dalton, Georgia, and is a solar module manufacturing facility. It is a subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp., one of the world’s largest and most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers.
