Maxeon Solar expands patent dispute against Aiko

Maxeon Solar Technologies announced that its subsidiary Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd. has filed a request to initiate preliminary injunction proceedings concerning patent infringement claims against Eironn Netherlands B.V. (Aiko Energy) and its wholesalers VDH Solar Groothandel B.V. and Libra Energy B.V. in the Hague District Court, Netherlands. The patent infringement claims concern Maxeon’s European Patent No. EP2297788B1. This patent relates to proprietary and fundamental solar cell architectures for rear or back contact solar cells, also known as All-Back Contact solar cells or Interdigitated Back Contact solar cells. In addition to the Dutch proceedings, Maxeon has a patent dispute pending against Aiko with respect to Maxeon’s European Patent No. EP2297788B1, which Maxeon initiated in Germany in November 2023. Maxeon has also issued a cease-and-desist letter to Shanghai Aiko Energy Co., Ltd. and Aiko Energy Germany GmbH related to the “Aiko statement on patent infringement claims noticed by the company,” issued on the aikosolar.com website on November 16, 2023. In that Statement, Aiko made legally incorrect and misleading claims about Aiko’s own patents “forming a complete protection system for (Aiko) products.” In the Letter, Maxeon has demanded Aiko retract and refrain from making this claim. “Aiko’s own patents do not preclude Aiko from infringing patents held by third parties, including Maxeon’s patents,” said Marc Robinson, Maxeon’s Associate General Counsel, Products & Technology. “The Statement made by Aiko is misleading and perpetuates a misunderstanding of the rights afforded to patent holders. Aiko and its downstream partners do not have rights to practice Maxeon’s patents, and Maxeon will continue to vigorously pursue patent enforcement in Europe and other regions against Aiko and its partners.” “Maxeon expects Aiko, VDH, and Libra to immediately stop their ongoing use of Maxeon’s patented technology,” said Lindsey Wiedmann, Maxeon’s Chief Legal & Sustainability Officer. “Technology innovation depends not only on a reliable patent system, but also fair competition. We are hopeful Aiko will correct its misleading claims regarding its patent rights.”