Solar module and cell manufacturers LONGi Green Energy Technology and JinkoSolar announced that the two companies, along with their affiliates, have reached a global settlement regarding ongoing patent disputes and related legal proceedings.

Under the agreement, all worldwide patent litigation between the two companies will be terminated. Additionally, LONGi and JinkoSolar have entered into a commercial agreement that includes the cross-licensing of selected core patents.

Both companies emphasized that the settlement reflects a shared recognition of the importance of intellectual property protection and a long-term commitment to fostering sustainable innovation in the solar sector.

The companies stated that they will continue to increase investment in research and development, accelerate the commercialization of advanced technologies, and explore further opportunities for collaboration.

In March this year, LONGi filed a patent infringement lawsuit against JinkoSolar and its subsidiaries in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The lawsuit alleged that JinkoSolar’s tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and multiple other photovoltaic module products infringe LONGi’s U.S. patents. LONGi sought a court order to prohibit Jinko from selling the alleged infringing products in the U.S. and also demanded financial compensation for damages.

The lawsuit followed Jinko’s earlier infringement lawsuit against LONGi, serving as a legal countermeasure in the ongoing patent dispute between the two solar manufacturers.

Patent disputes among solar companies have become more frequent recently, with intellectual property rights protection emerging as a key topic at major industry conferences.

The solar industry’s transition from Mono PERC technology to TOPCon has resulted in a recent surge of intellectual property disputes related to TOPCon, particularly in China, Europe, and the U.S.

JinkoSolar and LONGi Green Energy Technology were among the top solar module suppliers in 2024, according to Mercom’s India Solar Market Leaderboard 2025. JinkoSolar was the leading supplier in 2024, accounting for 15.7% of the modules shipped to India. LONGi Green Energy Technology ranked third, accounting for 8.6% of the module shipments.