Maxeon Solar is now also claiming shingled panel patent infringement against Canadian Solar

Maxeon Solar Technologies, the recent panel manufacturing spinoff of SunPower, today filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Canadian Solar Japan K.K., in Tokyo District Court, Japan. The lawsuit filing alleges Canadian Solar Japan infringes Maxeon’s Japan Patent No. JP6642841B2 (Shingled Solar Cell Module) for the proprietary and fundamental shingled solar cell panel technology used to deploy solar panels that Maxeon designs, manufactures and sells under the “SunPower Performance/P-Series” brand name.

This comes following multiple patent infringement claims by Solaria against Canadian Solar in U.S. courts. Canadian Solar has vigorously defended its use of the technology.

Maxeon’s Performance panel architecture and manufacturing processes were pioneered by Silicon Valley-based start-up company Cogenra Solar which was acquired by SunPower in 2015. In the subsequent spinoff of Maxeon Solar Technologies, Maxeon retained the use of the SunPower brand in the more than 100 markets it serves. With more than 3 GW deployed across over 60 countries to date, Performance panels are the industry’s most deployed shingled solar cell panel technology.

“We’ve built our business on a 35-year foundation of pioneering solar innovation. The intellectual property behind our shingled solar cell technology was developed by our talented design and engineering teams and is the result of substantial investment,” said Jeff Waters, CEO of Maxeon Solar Technologies. “The resultant Performance technology outperforms conventional panels in efficiency, power, reliability and aesthetics.”

Maxeon states that the innovation behind Performance panels is protected by an international portfolio of more than 150 patents and patent applications covering shingled solar cell and panel design, as well as key manufacturing tools and processes.

“We feel very strongly about the importance of upholding our intellectual property rights, and view our intellectual property as a key business asset,” added Lindsey Wiedmann, Maxeon’s Chief Legal Officer. “Maxeon’s patent portfolio, which now includes more than 900 patents, helps protect the many technical advancements we’ve made through the years that have led us to a prominent position in the solar industry. We must vigorously safeguard these valuable assets, and this action against Canadian Solar is a necessary step to prevent unauthorized use of our intellectual property.  Respect of intellectual property rights is critical to incentivize innovation and for the orderly ongoing development of the solar industry.”

News item from Maxeon

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/09/maxeon-solar-is-now-also-claiming-shingled-panel-patent-infringement-against-canadian-solar/