Final determination to be announced on August 2
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday made a preliminary judgment in favor of SK Innovation against LG Energy Solution in the pair’s lawsuit over patents related to battery technology.
This was a different outcome from the pair’s separate lawsuit over trade secret, in which the ITC ruled in favor of LG over SK back in February.
The commission said SK didn’t infringe on the four patents on lithium-ion battery that LG claimed it did.
LG filed the patent infringement lawsuit against SK back in September 2019.
ITC did however accept the validity of one of the patents claimed by LG, called SRS 517, which is related to separator coating, among the four, but said SK didn’t infringe it. It said the remaining three patents __ SRS 241 and 152 as well as another one numbered 877 related to cathode __ were invalid.
SK Innovation welcomed the decision, saying decision showed the company had its own proprietary technology.
LG Energy Solution while ITC’s ruling was regrettable, it respected the decision and will work on the remaining legal procedures on proving that its patents were valid and infringed upon. It added that as 517 patent was accepted as valid, it will work to prove that it was infringed as well.
ITC will make a final determination on the case on August 2.
Meanwhile, how the ruling will impact the settlement negotiations between the two South Korean remains to be seen. SK Innovation is seeking a veto for the earlier ruling made by ITC over trade secrets from US President Joe Biden.
LG filed the trade secret lawsuit to the ITC against SK in April 2019.
