Tai Mei Ti A P P·2025-08-09 10:02Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing patent wars in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, emphasizing the shift from an incremental growth phase to a competitive landscape where companies are focusing on retaining advanced production capacity and eliminating outdated capacity. Patents are seen as a crucial tool in this "anti-involution" strategy [1]. Group 1: Patent Litigation Overview - The patent litigation between JinkoSolar and LONGi Green Energy is highlighted as a significant ongoing conflict in the PV sector, with a need to assess the patent situations of the top 10 companies in terms of module shipments [3]. - Since 2019, the patent wars in the PV industry have been continuous, with only two companies, GCL-Poly and Hengdian East Magnetic, not involved in any patent litigation [3]. - Tongwei Co., while rapidly rising in the top 10, has had minimal patent litigation exposure, primarily due to its dual leadership in silicon materials and cells [3]. Group 2: Patent Application Statistics - Trina Solar leads in patent applications with 7,219 patents, followed by JinkoSolar and LONGi Green Energy in second and third places, respectively [7]. - Canadian Solar, despite facing multiple patent infringement lawsuits, has a substantial patent application count of 4,669, placing it among the top tier of PV companies [7]. - GCL-Poly has a relatively low patent application count, while Hengdian East Magnetic has over 3,700 patents, but only 681 are related to PV technology, making it the lowest among the top 10 [7]. Group 3: Patent Validity and Status - LONGi Green Energy holds the highest number of valid patents at 3,900, while Trina Solar has 3,448 valid patents, and JinkoSolar has 2,449 [10]. - The analysis shows that Yida New Energy has the lowest percentage of expired patents at 3%, while GCL-Poly and Canadian Solar have high expiration rates of 40% and 32%, respectively [10]. - The proportion of pending patents indicates that Trina Solar has over 33% pending, while Hengdian East Magnetic and JinkoSolar have around 30% [10]. Group 4: Patent Types and Quality - JinkoSolar and Trina Solar have the highest number of invention patents, with JinkoSolar's invention patents making up 70% of its total applications [12]. - GCL-Poly's patent applications are primarily domestic, with minimal international presence, indicating a focus on the domestic market [17]. - GCL-Poly has a total of 1,138 patent applications, with 519 being valid, but a significant number of low-value patents have been abandoned or rejected [19]. Group 5: Legal Events and Patent Management - GCL-Poly has engaged in various legal events related to its patents, including transfers and acquisitions, indicating active management of its patent portfolio [25]. - Hengdian East Magnetic has also seen significant patent pledges, with over 75 patents pledged for financing, reflecting a strategic approach to leveraging its patent assets [38]. - The company has a relatively high number of invention patents, with 445 out of 681 total patents, indicating a focus on high-quality innovations [35]. Group 6: Strategic Insights and Recommendations - Both GCL-Poly and Hengdian East Magnetic have lower overall patent strengths compared to leading companies like JinkoSolar and LONGi Green Energy, which may impact their competitive positioning [42]. - GCL-Poly's strategy of acquiring external patents could enhance its litigation capabilities, while Hengdian East Magnetic's effective maintenance of patent validity is crucial for future legal defenses [42]. - The article suggests that PV companies should enhance innovation and proactively manage patent risks to minimize litigation exposure [45].