Image: Longi
Solar industry giants JinkoSolar and Longi have announced a global settlement agreement that brings an end to all ongoing patent litigation between the companies and their affiliates. The truce spans lawsuits in China, the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia, and establishes a commercial arrangement that includes cross-licensing of selected core patents.
Both companies described the deal as a reflection of their commitment to intellectual property (IP) protection and industry collaboration. They said they will continue to invest heavily in R&D, accelerate the commercialization of advanced solar technologies, and explore deeper avenues of cooperation.
The settlement closes the curtain on more than a year of high-profile disputes between Jinko and Longi, centered on competing solar cell technologies: tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), championed by Jinko, and back contact (BC), promoted by Longi. The litigation had become a symbol of the sector’s transition from price-driven rivalry to legal contests over patent portfolios and technological leadership.
The conflict escalated after Jinko’s 2022 acquisition of 745 patents from South Korea’s LG Group, which bolstered its position in both TOPCon and BC technologies. Jinko then launched multiple infringement suits in China, Japan, Europe, and Australia, seeking to restrict Longi’s BC module rollout.
Longi retaliated with counterclaims based on its nearly 200 BC patents, filing cases in China and the US while also moving to invalidate Jinko’s patents overseas. At the same time, Longi rapidly advanced commercialization of its BC products, which began gaining traction in the European market, underlining the commercial stakes of the legal fight.
While rooted in technical disputes, the clash also reflected broader strategic positioning between the two largest solar manufacturers. The settlement’s cross-licensing arrangement is expected to reduce legal risks and signals a more pragmatic shift in the industry — balancing strict IP enforcement with collaboration to support long-term growth.
In a joint statement, Jinko and Longi confirmed they will “explore opportunities for deeper cooperation” in the future, leaving open the prospect of collaboration on next-generation solar cell technologies.
