Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-07-02 13:50Core Viewpoint - Tianqi Materials has filed a civil lawsuit against Yongtai Technology and others for commercial secret infringement, claiming an expected economic loss of 887 million yuan and legal fees of 1.15 million yuan [2][5]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - Tianqi Materials' subsidiary, Jiujiang Tianqi High-tech Materials Co., Ltd., is the plaintiff in the lawsuit filed in Jiangxi Province [2]. - The defendants include Yongtai Technology, Shaowu Yongtai High-tech Materials Co., Ltd., and several individuals, with claims of intentional infringement [2][3]. - The lawsuit seeks to destroy production line equipment and technical documents used in the production of 134,000 tons of liquid lithium salt, which allegedly utilized Tianqi's trade secrets [3][12]. Group 2: Background of the Dispute - The dispute traces back to a meeting arranged by Zhejiang Yan Yi, where former Tianqi engineer Li Sheng was allegedly offered high consulting fees and equity incentives to share proprietary technology [6][10]. - Li Sheng, after leaving Tianqi, is accused of illegally transferring proprietary technology to Zhejiang Yan Yi and Yongtai Technology [7][10]. - The technology in question includes processes for producing liquid lithium hexafluorophosphate and liquid dual fluorine, which are critical in the lithium battery industry [7][25]. Group 3: Financial Implications - The expected economic loss claimed by Tianqi Materials amounts to 887 million yuan, reflecting the significant financial stakes involved in the case [2][16]. - Yongtai Technology's 134,000 tons liquid lithium salt project is projected to generate annual revenues of 5.4 billion yuan and net profits of 670 million yuan once fully operational [19][20]. - The ongoing legal issues may impact Yongtai Technology's financial performance, as it has reported consecutive losses despite expanding production capacity [19][20]. Group 4: Industry Context - The lithium salt market has seen significant fluctuations, with prices for lithium hexafluorophosphate rising sharply due to increased demand from the electric vehicle sector [25][26]. - The case highlights the growing trend of intellectual property disputes within the lithium battery industry, reflecting the competitive landscape and the importance of proprietary technology [26][27]. - Recent judicial interpretations have increased penalties for commercial secret infringements, indicating a stricter enforcement environment for intellectual property rights [26][27].