First Solar Sues China-based JinkoSolar Over Panel Tech (1)

First Solar Inc. accused its Chinese competitor JinkoSolar Holding Co. of creating and importing solar panel products that infringe its patented technology.

JinkoSolar and its eight subsidiaries, including those based in Vietnam and the US, made “tunnel oxide passivated contact” solar cells and placed them inside solar panel product lines, according to a complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. US-based First Solar said the solar cells infringe US Patent No. 9,130,074.

The ‘074 patent concerns manufacturing methods for high-efficiency solar cell structures, according to the company.

First Solar announced that it owns ...