China Patent Office upholds the validity of REC Group’s patent against Hanwha Q Cells
[[{"fid":"68144","view_mode":"33_left","fields":{"alt":"REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","class":"media-element file-16-left","data-delta":"1","format":"33_left","field_file_image_alt_text[en][0][value]":"REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","field_file_image_title_text[en][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_caption[en][0][value]":"Picture caption: REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","field_file_image_description[en][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"alt":"REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","class":"media-element file-16-left","data-delta":"1","format":"33_left","field_file_image_alt_text[en][0][value]":"REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","field_file_image_title_text[en][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_caption[en][0][value]":"Picture caption: REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","field_file_image_description[en][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"REC Alpha Series, Intersolar Award winner 2020, is REC Group’s latest solar panel innovation using the inhouse-developed split cell and junction box technology.","class":"media-element file-33-left","data-delta":"1"}}]]To protect its intellectual property, REC Group filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hanwha Q Cells (Qidong) Co., Ltd. (part of Hanwha Q Cells) in February 2020. The China Patent Office’s decision, announced on January 4, 2021, follows Hanwha Q Cells’ request, made in May 2020, to challenge the validity of REC’s patent. REC Group also filed a lawsuit against Hanwha Q Cells asserting a related patent in the U.S. District of Delaware in November 2020.
“We are pleased with this decision, confirming the novelty and inventiveness of REC Group’s industry leading innovations. We have invested significant time, effort and resources to develop and perfect technology that improves the performance and reliability of our products in the interest of our customers,” says Dr. Shankar G. Sridhara, Chief Technology Officer of REC Group. “We remain committed to developing groundbreaking innovations, and believe robust intellectual property protection for breakthroughs such as this one is vital to advancing the renewable energy industry at large and foster energy transitions worldwide. We are confident of our enforcement actions and will continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property rights.”
For global inquiries please contact:
Agnieszka Schulze
Head of Global PR, REC Group
Tel.: +49 89 54 04 67 225
E-mail: agnieszka.schulze@recgroup.com
REC Solar EMEA GmbH
Leopoldstraße 175
80804 Munich, Germany
Managing Director: Cemil Seber
Court of Registration: Munich HRB 180306
VAT ID-No: DE266243545
About REC Group:
REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company dedicated to empowering consumers with clean, affordable solar power in order to facilitate global energy transitions. Committed to quality and innovation, REC offers photovoltaic modules with leading high quality, backed by an exceptional low warranty claims rate of less than 100ppm. Founded in Norway in 1996, REC employs 2,000 people and has an annual solar panel capacity of 1.8 GW. With over 10 GW installed worldwide, REC is empowering more than 16 million people with clean solar energy. REC Group has its headquarters in Norway, operational headquarters in Singapore, and regional bases in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
