Maxeon Solar Technologies has recently filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Canadian Solar in the Eastern District of Texas. The company alleges that Canadian Solar has infringed on its patents related to its tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) solar cell technology. Maxeon holds numerous patents related to TOPCon technology, with some dating back to the early 2000s.
Maxeon’s associate general counsel, Marc Robinson, states that the company has a strong history of developing solar cell technology and has been at the forefront of developing and commercializing TOPCon contacts. He mentions that Maxeon’s scientists and engineers were working on implementing TOPCon technology into both back contact and front contact solar cells years before the term “TOPCon” became widely used in the industry. This lawsuit marks Maxeon’s first effort to enforce its patent rights in the United States, and the company plans to continue vigorously protecting its patents in the US and other markets.