LONGi & JinkoSolar Settle Global Patent Conflicts

LONGi Green Energy Technology and JinkoSolar, 2 of the world’s largest solar PV companies, have reached a global settlement in their ongoing patent infringement dispute over related patent claims. They have also agreed to cross-licensing arrangements. 

Under the terms of the settlement, all current legal proceedings related to patent claims between the 2 companies and their affiliates worldwide will be terminated. They have agreed to enter into relevant commercial arrangements that allow cross-licensing of some core patents held by each party. 

While the details of the patent conflict and licensing haven’t been specified, the 2 companies have been embroiled in patent lawsuits regarding TOPCon technology since the beginning of this year. In January 2025, JinkoSolar filed a lawsuit against LONGi in China, subsequently expanding it to Japan and Australia. LONGi hit back with its own lawsuit against JinkoSolar in Texas, dragging the latter’s Vietnamese subsidiary as well. 

In August 2025, a JinkoSolar subsidiary filed another patent lawsuit against LONGi and its local European subsidiaries, as well as a distributor in Germany, for infringing on its patent related to selective doping of solar cell passivation that it acquired from LG Electronics (see JinkoSolar Sues LONGi For Patent Infringement In EU). 

Meanwhile, TOPCon, the solar PV industry’s current workhorse, remains a subject of patent claims globally. Among other prominent TOPCon patent fights, JinkoSolar is fighting a TOPCon patent war against Waaree, VSUN Solar USA, and TOYO; Trinasolar has filed lawsuits against Canadian Solar, Runergy Alabama, and Adani. 

Some of the other ongoing TOPCon patent cases include Maxeon Solar Technologies and First Solar, among others. 

Maxeon reached an out-of-court settlement with Tongwei late last year for their patent dispute regarding shingled solar technology. They also entered a cross-licensing agreement, similar to the one LONGi and JinkoSolar have entered (see Tongwei & Maxeon Reach Agreement In Solar Patent Dispute). 

“This settlement and patent licensing demonstrates the mutual commitment of both parties to respect intellectual property rights and pursue mutually beneficial cooperation. It also sets a precedent for a long-term, sustainable intellectual property partnership in the industry,” reads an official statement from LONGi on its WeChat account regarding the deal reached with JinkoSolar. 

The agreement between the 2 industry giants ends an expensive patent war at a time when the global solar PV industry is grappling with oversupply, low factory utilization, and shrinking profits. By choosing cross-licensing over prolonged litigation, both companies will, of course, conserve cash and resources. LONGi says the deal sets an important precedent for resolving technology disputes through cooperation rather than conflict, laying the groundwork for a healthier, more innovation-friendly intellectual property ecosystem across the PV sector. 

It further adds, “We believe this will encourage more photovoltaic companies to invest in R&D and innovation, foster a healthy competitive ecosystem, build a healthy and orderly intellectual property ecosystem within the photovoltaic industry, and promote sustainable development.”