Maxeon Solar files patent lawsuit against Canadian Solar in Japan

Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ:MAXN), the solar panel maker that was recently spun off from SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR), has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Canadian Solar Japan KK.

The Singapore-based company claims that the Japanese unit of Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ:CSIQ) infringes its Japan Patent No. JP6642841B2 in relation to the shingled solar cell technology used to deploy SunPower Performance-branded solar panels made by Maxeon. The latter noted that the Performance panel architecture and manufacturing processes were pioneered by Silicon Valley-based Cogenra Solar that was acquired by SunPower in 2015.

Maxeon, which retained the use of the SunPower brand in over 100 markets, manufactures Performance solar panels in China through a joint venture with Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co Ltd (SHE:002129).

The lawsuit that was filed in Tokyo District Court comes at a time when Canadian Solar is also litigating a patent lawsuit in the US lodged by Solaria Corporation. It claims that the Canada-based company infringes a patent regarding a process for separating photovoltaic (PV) strips from solar cells for use in shingled modules.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!