Breaking! Tongwei & TCL Zhonghuan Reach Global Settlement

According to the official WeChat account of Wisteria Intellectual Property, Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. and Tongwei Solar (Hefei) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Tongwei") have recently reached a global settlement regarding the shingled technology patent dispute.

This settlement not only demonstrates the high level of professionalism and cooperative attitude exhibited by both companies in addressing intellectual property disputes but also sends a positive signal to the entire PV industry—that resolving disputes through amicable negotiation is a feasible and beneficial approach.

It is reported that on June 15, 2023, TCL Zhonghuan announced that it had received a notification from Maxeon stating that Tongwei Solar (Hefei) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Tongwei Co., Ltd., and its subsidiary Tongwei Solar GmbH had used Maxeon's European Patent No. EP3522045B1 ("Shingled Solar Cell Module") without authorization. This patent pertains to Maxeon's proprietary foundational shingled cell module technology used in the manufacturing of Performance modules.

In response, Maxeon's subsidiary, Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd., has taken legal action to protect its intellectual property rights and filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Tongwei Solar (Hefei) Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Tongwei Solar GmbH in the Düsseldorf Regional Court in Germany, asserting its claims.

On June 20 of the same year, Tongwei Co., Ltd. responded to the matter, stating that there was no evidence at the time indicating that the company had infringed on Maxeon's related patents. The company would continue to closely monitor the progress of the lawsuit and had engaged local German lawyers to actively defend itself and lawfully assert its legitimate rights and interests.