BUSINESS

China Battery Group Plans Patent Pool to Fend Off IP Lawsuits

Published: Jul. 2, 2026 3:05 a.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Workers make battery pack housings at a new-energy manufacturing company in Huaibei, Anhui province, May 3, 2026. Photo: VCG

China’s main automotive battery industry group is preparing to set up a national patent pool, aiming to strengthen intellectual property protection and help domestic manufacturers defend against a growing wave of overseas litigation.

As Chinese companies dominate the global market for electric-vehicle and energy-storage batteries, a centralized IP defense mechanism could help them counter legal challenges from foreign rivals seeking to slow their overseas expansion.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Save an extra $50. Introductory offer for new readers. Subscribe now.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

China's battery alliance plans a national patent pool to strengthen IP protection and counter overseas litigation, disclosed by chairman Dong Yang on June 30.
Foreign disputes include Tulip Innovation suing Sunwoda in Germany (2024) and winning a market injunction; domestic cases involve CATL suing CALB for 647 million yuan.
Challenges include low enthusiasm from major makers, weak willingness to pay licensing fees, and lack of standard-essential patents, though smaller firms may benefit.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd.: Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd. faced IP disputes from Tulip Innovation, a patent pool of LG and Panasonic. Tulip sued Sunwoda in Germany in October 2024, winning a market injunction in May 2025. After Sunwoda filed patent invalidation requests, a German court invalidated one patent, leading to a licensing agreement in June 2026 and dismissal of all proceedings.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) sued CALB Group for patent infringement (2021-2022), seeking 647 million yuan. CATL won final judgments in two disputes, while two other patents were invalidated. In October 2025, CATL established an advanced battery IP center operating a patent pool with 112 patents and 33 supply-chain members.

CALB Group Co., Ltd.: CALB Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese battery maker, was sued by CATL from 2021–2022 over patent infringements and unfair competition, facing 647 million yuan in claims. CATL won two final judgments, while two other CALB patents were invalidated by China's intellectual property authority.

LG Energy Solution Ltd.: LG Energy Solution Ltd., a South Korean battery maker, co-founded Tulip Innovation, a Budapest-based patent pool with Panasonic. In 2024, Tulip sued Sunwoda over patents in Germany, winning an injunction in 2025. The dispute ended with a licensing agreement in June 2026 after a German court invalidated one patent.

Panasonic Holdings Corp.: Invalid input_text

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

Before 2021：: No specific event recorded, background context of domestic litigation emerging.

Between 2021 and 2022：: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) sued CALB Group Co. Ltd. over multiple alleged patent infringements and unfair competition, seeking 647 million yuan ($95 million) in compensation.

October 2024：: Tulip Innovation, a Budapest-based patent pool formed by South Korea's LG Energy Solution and Japan's Panasonic Holdings, sued Sunwoda Electronic Co. Ltd. in Germany over three patents.

May 2025：: Tulip won a market injunction halting sales in Germany of vehicles equipped with Sunwoda batteries.

October 2025：: CATL's advanced battery intellectual property center, established with local regulators in Fujian province, received national recognition.

January 2026：: Tulip filed an unfair trade investigation request against Sunwoda in South Korea; Sunwoda responded with patent invalidation requests.

April 2026：: Three leading companies in China's solar industry formed the country's first photovoltaic patent pool, serving as a model for the battery alliance.

May 19, 2026：: A German court invalidated one of the disputed patents in the Tulip-Sunwoda case.

June 11, 2026：: Tulip and Sunwoda signed a licensing agreement and agreed to drop all pending proceedings in Germany, South Korea, and China.

June 30, 2026：: Dong Yang, chairman of the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance, disclosed plans to set up a national patent pool in 2026 at an annual forum.

In 2025 (multiple references)：: Chinese companies dominated the global market for EV and energy-storage batteries; six of top 10 power-battery producers and all top 10 energy-storage battery makers were Chinese.

AI generated, for reference only