China’s two largest solar manufacturers have ended a protracted global patent battle, agreeing to cross-license core technologies in a move that could reshape the industry’s innovation landscape.
JinkoSolar and Longi have jointly announced on September 19 that they and their affiliates have reached a comprehensive settlement covering all ongoing patent litigation worldwide. The agreement terminates lawsuits filed across China, the US, Europe, Japan and Australia, and establishes a commercial arrangement that includes cross-licensing of selected core patents.
The joint statement framed the deal as a demonstration of both companies’ commitment to intellectual property (IP) protection and industry collaboration. Jinko and Longi said they would continue investing in research and development, accelerate the commercialization of advanced technologies, and explore deeper cooperation.
The truce follows more than a year of escalating litigation between the two groups, centered on competing solar cell technologies: tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), backed by Jinko, and back contact (BC), promoted by Longi. The dispute had become emblematic of the industry’s shift from price-driven competition to legal warfare over patent portfolios and technological dominance.
The conflict began after Jinko acquired 745 patents from South Korea’s LG Group in 2022, strengthening its hand in TOPCon and BC technologies. Jinko subsequently launched a wave of infringement cases. These included suits in China and Japan alleging that Longi’s products violated TOPCon patents, as well as proceedings in Europe and Australia designed to limit the rollout of Longi’s BC modules.
Longi responded with counterclaims focused on its nearly 200 BC technology patents. It sued Jinko in the US and China, asserting infringement of BC module designs, while also seeking to invalidate Jinko’s patents in Europe and the US. At the same time, Longi accelerated the commercialization of its BC products, which have gained market share in Europe, underscoring the commercial stakes behind the legal battles.
At its core, the dispute was as much about business strategy as technology, with this settlement marking an important pivot. Cross-licensing may reduce the immediate legal risks for both sides, while signaling a broader industry trend towards balancing aggressive IP defense with pragmatic collaboration.
In their joint statement, Jinko and Longi said they would “explore opportunities for deeper cooperation” in the future, opening the door for potential cooperation between the world’s two largest solar manufacturers in next-generation cell technologies.
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