Solar module producers Canadian Solar Inc and Maxeon Solar Technologies have reached a settlement agreement to resolve a patent infringement lawsuit in Japan which now prevents Canadian Solar from selling its shingled solar cell modules in the country.
According to a brief statement released by SunPower's manufacturing spin-off Maxeon, it had alleged Canadian Solar Japan to have infringed its Japan Patent No. JP6642841B2 related to the shingled solar cell module, and filed a patent infringement lawsuit in Tokyo District Court, Japan.
As per the agreement reached, Canadian Solar will withdraw challenges to Maxeon's patent and stop selling shingled solar cell based solar modules in this market until Q2/2025 'after satisfying certain outstanding 2022 orders'. Remaining settlement details are confidential, Maxeon added.
In 2020, American solar module manufacturer Solaria Corporation accused Canadian Solar of unlawfully using its high-density module technology for shingled solar modules and followed it up with a patent infringement lawsuit in California. Canadian Solar called the claims meritless and unfounded. In October 2021, Solaria said the US International Trade Commission (ITC) had issued an Initial Determination finding in the favor of its lawsuit.