Recently, Ja Solar Technology Co., Ltd. and Chint New Energy jointly announced via their official WeChat accounts that they have reached a global settlement on all ongoing patent disputes. The agreement includes cross-licensing for TOPCon-related patents and a mutual commitment to refrain from further litigation during the agreement’s validity period. Both companies rank among the top 10 solar module manufacturers—Ja Solar at fourth and Chint New Energy at sixth. Since last year, they had been locked in fierce legal battles over TOPCon patents across multiple international courts. Now, their reconciliation raises questions about its broader implications for the industry.
The image shows the Hamburg division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in the EU. The UPC, composed of judges from all EU member states, was established to adjudicate infringement and validity disputes concerning unitary patents and traditional European patents. Under the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA), which took effect on June 1, 2023, the UPC serves as a shared court for 18 EU member states.
**1. Patent Wars: An Inevitable Phase in the Solar Industry’s Maturation** The solar industry has always been driven by technological advancements. From polycrystalline to monocrystalline, P-type to N-type, and from PERC to TOPCon, HJT, and BC, each efficiency leap and cost reduction over the past two decades has pushed the boundaries of physics. In such an environment, R&D investment and process iteration remain the primary forces of progress. Patents, as the most established mechanism for protecting intellectual property, ensure innovators reap the rewards of their breakthroughs. Without patents, technological advantages would quickly erode, leading to commoditization and price wars—ultimately harming profitability for all.
The rapid proliferation of TOPCon technology, now a standard industry solution, has intensified competition. This explains why, since last year, patent disputes have erupted among major players: Trina Solar sued Canadian Solar, Ja Solar sued Chint New Energy, and JinkoSolar sued LONGi. From an industry perspective, TOPCon is no longer a proprietary technology but a shared platform. According to InfoLink, the top 10 module suppliers shipped approximately 502GW globally in 2024, with N-type modules gaining traction. In some utility-scale tenders, TOPCon already accounts for over half of the bids.
When a technology becomes the industry baseline, respect for original innovation must move beyond rhetoric. Take Ja Solar as an example: In the first half of 2025 alone, its R&D spending reached ¥1.388 billion (5.81% of revenue), with 2,072 valid patents (1,109 of them inventions). It ranks among China’s top 500 private enterprises for both R&D investment and invention patents. JinkoSolar and Trina Solar show similar commitments. Despite industry-wide losses and TOPCon’s commoditization, leading firms continue investing in R&D. However, without robust patent protection, such investments would be unsustainable.
Thus, in today’s cutthroat market, patents have become both a defensive shield and an offensive weapon. Patent litigation is not regression but a belated enforcement of rules: Those who invest first in TOPCon innovation have every right to defend their competitive edge. Some argue that using acquired patents in lawsuits lacks merit, but history proves otherwise. In 1888, Westinghouse purchased Nikola Tesla’s AC system patents, enabling it to challenge Edison’s DC dominance and establish AC as the 20th-century standard. Similarly, LG’s exit from solar manufacturing saw its TOPCon patents acquired by Chinese firms like Jinko, Trina, and Ja Solar—forming the basis for recent lawsuits.
**2. Global Competition Now Centers on Chinese Rivals** In past solar cycles, Chinese firms faced patent lawsuits from Western players under “anti-dumping” or Section 337 investigations. Today, the battleground has shifted entirely. In July 2024, Ja Solar sued Chint New Energy at the UPC over two TOPCon patents (EP2787541 and EP4092759), targeting core technologies like tunnel oxide layers and doped polysilicon structures. Meanwhile, Trina pursued Canadian Solar in Chinese and U.S. courts, seeking ¥1.058 billion in damages and a U.S. import ban via an ITC investigation. JinkoSolar and LONGi also clashed globally over TOPCon and BC patents before settling in September 2025.
This new era pits Chinese leaders against each other—not Western rivals. Their willingness to litigate in costly, untested forums like the UPC reflects confidence in their patent portfolios. Yet outcomes are mixed: In October 2025, the EPO invalidated one of Ja Solar’s patents following Chint’s challenge, though another led to a sweeping injunction in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, plus damages and cost awards.
This shift underscores China’s dominance in solar. With all top 10 module suppliers now Chinese, global competition has effectively become intra-Chinese competition—mirroring historical rivalries like Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi or Samsung vs. SK Hynix.
**3. Why Settle Now?** Ja Solar could have pressed on for a decisive legal victory. Its choice to settle likely stems from multiple factors: - **Financial Prudence**: With TOPCon module prices languishing below ¥0.70/W (despite a ¥0.71/W “floor”), prolonged litigation would strain cash flows. - **Industry Norm-Setting**: The lawsuits established that unlicensed use of patents carries consequences, deterring future free-riding. - **Collaborative Imperative**: As anti-overcapacity efforts gain traction, industry leaders recognize that cooperation, not conflict, is key to recovery.
Ja Solar and Chint’s settlement follows similar moves by Jinko-LONGi, signaling a shift toward conflict resolution. While competition over HJT, BC, and tandem cells will continue, this episode shows China’s solar giants are maturing in managing disputes—balancing assertiveness with pragmatism.
**Epilogue: A Call for Ecosystem Health** Business ecosystems, like water, sustain all players. Today’s solar industry suffers from overcapacity and hypercompetition, threatening even the strongest firms. Leaders must weigh not just their interests but the sector’s collective health. Past expansion sprees—often led by top players—contributed to the crisis, but course correction is possible.
Patents can be weapons or treaties. Ja Solar and Chint’s truce won’t end technological competition, but it proves Chinese firms are learning to navigate conflicts with nuance—a vital skill for an industry critical to global decarbonization.
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