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Shares of Longi Green Energy Technology and Jinko Solar declined despite both major Chinese solar panel manufacturers announcing they have reached an agreement to settle all their patent infringement disputes.
Longi was trading approximately 2.4% lower at CNY16.50 (around $2.32 USD) during midday trading in Shanghai, while Jinko fell about 2.6% to CNY5.21 (roughly 73 cents USD).
The two companies have officially ended all patent litigation worldwide and have agreed on a commercial cross-licensing arrangement for some of their core patents, according to separate statements issued late on September 19. Specific details of the settlement were not disclosed.
Both firms emphasized their intention to focus on speeding up the commercialization and technological innovation of advanced solar solutions and to explore potential further collaborations moving forward.
Longi’s shipments of monocrystalline silicon wafers and modules have long been among the highest globally. Jinko has held the top spot in global solar module shipments for the past six years.
Jinko leads in patents related to tunnel oxide passivated contact solar cell technology, while Longi holds the most patents in back contact solar cell production technology. The companies have frequently sued each other over patents, especially concerning TOPCon technology.
Since December of the previous year, Jinko has filed six patent lawsuits against Longi in countries including China, Japan, and Australia, mainly over core technologies like TOPCon batteries and associated component designs. Meanwhile, Longi filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Jinko in February in Jinan’s Intermediate People’s Court, followed by another suit against Jinko and its subsidiary in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in March.
Legal battles over patents among PV companies have surged since last year’s start, with tensions escalating in China’s photovoltaic sector. Industry insiders have expressed concern that patent infringements have become a serious issue, contributing to growing industry chaos.
Earlier this year, Longi’s founder noted in interviews that he is concerned about the current state of the PV industry. He highlighted that the rapid growth of China’s photovoltaic sector over the past two decades has been a collective effort, with each company contributing unique patent innovations.
However, as the industry faces downward pressures, turning patents into “weapons” risks further increasing disorder within the sector, he warned.
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