A petition for invalidation of LG Chem's cathode material technology patent has been filed in China, drawing attention to the ongoing dispute over advanced technology patents in the industry. As competition in the global battery market intensifies, conflicts over technology and intellectual property rights that transcend national borders are gradually deepening.

According to industry sources on the 6th, a petition for the invalidation of LG Chem's patent on nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode technology was recently submitted to China's National Intellectual Property Administration. Although the petitioner is registered as an individual, industry experts suggest that the leading Chinese NCM cathode materials company, 'Longbai,' may be behind the petition.

The speculation is strengthened by the fact that LG Chem previously filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Longbai’s South Korean subsidiary, JSE Li, last year. LG Chem alleged that JSE Li was using its NCM cathode material patent without permission to produce and sell products, leading to a lawsuit in the Seoul Central District Court. The industry views this invalidation petition as a form of retaliatory response from China.

Patent lawsuits between Chinese and Korean companies continue. Last year, Chinese company SVOLT was embroiled in controversy for allegedly stealing battery technologies from Samsung SDI and SK On.

According to the Korea Intellectual Property Office, patent applications related to secondary batteries have been growing rapidly, with an average annual increase of 13% from 2019 to 2023. As battery technology competition intensifies, China has been expanding its influence through aggressive patent filings. Chinese company CATL holds a total of 31,896 patents.

Among the major domestic battery companies, LG Energy Solution holds the most patents. As of last year, it owned a total of 28,255 patents, with 13,392 registered domestically and 17,741 registered internationally. Samsung SDI and SK On hold 22,030 and 4,569 patents, respectively.

LG Energy Solution has expressed a strong commitment to actively respond to "patent free-riding" targeting China. The company stated that it has identified 580 patents that were actually infringed upon by competitors, emphasizing that it cannot allow market distortion to go unchecked.

Kim Dong-myung, CEO of LG Energy Solution, recently mentioned, "We will protect our intellectual property rights and take stern actions against indiscriminate patent infringements." To strengthen its global litigation capabilities, the company plans to secure local experts in the U.S., Europe, and China and expand its overseas IP offices to better manage intellectual property rights.

The government is also supporting efforts to enhance patent competitiveness in the battery sector. The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) designated the secondary battery field as a priority for expedited examination starting in February 2024, focusing on increasing the number of specialized examiners and creating dedicated examination teams to support businesses.

An industry insider commented, "As competition in battery technology intensifies, patents go beyond being mere defensive tools and become a means of generating revenue. If a structure is created where companies can receive royalties or control competitors through patents, it will positively impact the companies' profitability."

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