First Solar said it is investigating possible violations of the patents it holds for TOPCon solar cell technology.
“First Solar has secured the US patent and related international counterparts through the acquisition of TetraSun, Inc. and has initiated an investigation into several c-Si solar manufacturers for possible infringement of their patents,” the company said in a statement. “The patents include issued patents in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and Australia, among others, with validity until 2030. It also includes pending patent applications in the European Union and Japan.”
The company did not identify the potential offenders or provide a timeline for the investigation.
“First Solar acquired TetraSun and its intellectual property portfolio in 2013. Prior to the acquisition, the California-based startup had pioneered proprietary cell architecture and manufacturing processes for large-format crystalline silicon wafers,” First Solar also said, without providing additional technical details. . “If infringement is discovered, we intend to challenge the ability of potential infringers to legally produce, assemble and sell infringing TOPCon technology by pursuing enforcement, licensing and/or other measures to protect our rights.”
First Solar produced PV modules using TetraSun technology at its Malaysian factory until 2016, ending production of crystalline silicon solar panels.
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