Mondragon Assembly has successfully enforced its intellectual property rights related to its proprietary Continuous Stringing technology, achieving favorable outcomes against unauthorized use by leading Chinese photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing equipment suppliers.
Mondragon Assembly has reached significant enforcement milestones with four Chinese tabber stringer suppliers. The Continuous Stringing patent, held by Mondragon Assembly in China (Chinese Patent CN 103681908 B), the United States (U.S. Patent No. 8,748,212) and other countries, restricts the sale and use of tabber stringer equipment incorporating this technology in these markets without the express authorization of Mondragon Assembly.
As a result, PV module manufacturers that import or operate tabber stringer equipment subject to these rulings, particularly within the United States, may face exposure to patent infringement risk if such equipment is used without proper licensing.
Mondragon Assembly emphasizes that its objective is not to inhibit the growth of the U.S. PV module manufacturing industry, nor to retroactively penalize manufacturers. Rather, the company is committed to supporting industry advancement while ensuring respect for intellectual property. To that end, Mondragon Assembly will provide U.S. module manufacturers currently utilizing infringing equipment the opportunity to obtain licenses for its Continuous Stringing intellectual property through the establishment of ongoing commercial relationships.
U.S.-based PV module manufacturers seeking to mitigate risk related to the use of tabber stringers implementing Continuous Stringing technology covered under U.S. Patent No.8,748,212 are encouraged to proactively engage with Mondragon Assembly. Early outreach to obtain a license and establish commercial agreements will help protect manufacturers from potential downstream impacts.