Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd, a prominent company in solar innovation, announced on 22 April that it had initiated a patent infringement lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas against Hanwha Q CELLS, alleging their infringement of Maxeon patents relating to TOPCon (tunnel oxide passivated contact) solar cell technology.
Maxeon’s position in solar technology is the result of nearly 40 years of research and development and over half a billion dollars of investment since 2007, which it eays have led to major advances in solar cell and panel efficiency, performance, and cost. The company has a global patent portfolio of over 1650 granted patents and more than 330 pending patent applications protecting the innovations underpinning its IBC (Interdigitated Back Contact), Shingled Hypercell, and TOPCon technologies.
“In November 2023, Maxeon initiated a TOPCon patent infringement investigation in the United States, and this lawsuit against Hanwha Q CELLS, along with recent similar actions against Canadian Solar, Inc. and REC Solar Holdings AS, are results of that investigation,” said Marc Robinson, Maxeon’s Associate General Counsel. “Maxeon has the responsibility to protect the leadership position it has earned from its substantial R&D investments and will continue to enforce its patent rights against those who are attempting to sell infringing products in the USA and its other markets.”
