Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-07-10 13:46Core Viewpoint - The company Tianqi Materials has withdrawn a lawsuit against Jinshi Resources and its subsidiary regarding the infringement of technical secrets related to lithium hexafluorophosphate, indicating new developments in the case and the intention to file another lawsuit in the future [1][2][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Background - The lawsuit initiated in 2023 involved Tianqi Materials claiming that Jinshi Resources and Jiangshan Jinshi infringed on its commercial secrets concerning lithium hexafluorophosphate technology [2]. - Tianqi Materials has been researching lithium hexafluorophosphate since 2005, developing core technical secrets including production formulas [2][4]. - The company became the largest electrolyte manufacturer in China in 2017 after entering the supply chains of ATL and CATL [2]. Group 2: Legal Proceedings - After the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court accepted the case, Jinshi Resources raised jurisdictional objections, which were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme People's Court, transferring the case to the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court [3]. - Tianqi Materials' withdrawal of the lawsuit was approved by the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court, which found the request compliant with legal regulations [3]. Group 3: Technical Secrets and Allegations - The dispute centers around the production formula and process of lithium hexafluorophosphate, a key raw material for electrolytes [2][4]. - Chen Chunfa, a former employee of Tianqi Materials, is a defendant in the case, having previously worked on the production and process changes of lithium hexafluorophosphate [5]. - Tianqi Materials claims that Jinshi Resources' patent application closely resembles its own technology, suggesting a breach of trade secrets [5]. Group 4: Market Context - The lithium materials market has faced supply-demand imbalances and significant price declines, with lithium hexafluorophosphate currently priced around 50,000 yuan per ton, down approximately 90% from its historical peak [6].