Six opponents destroy REC solar panel patent at EPO

REC Solar’s patent EP 30 17 520 protects a solar cell assembly. A certain serial arrangement of bypass diodes is intended to prevent a power loss when the solar panels are partially shaded. In September 2020, the EPO published the decision to grant.

However, oppositions from a total of six parties, including Hanwha and Solarwatt, as well as various strawmen, soon followed.

Solar panels, hot topic

The Opposition Division has now revoked EP 520 on the basis of impermissable extension. Due to the decision on formal grounds, the division did not address the question of prior art and inventive step. JUVE Patent is not yet aware whether REC will appeal the decision.

Jochen Herr

This is yet another decision in a global dispute in the highly competitive solar technology market.

Among the six opponents is Hanwha, a company that attracted attention with patent infringement suits in the Netherlands against Longi and in Germany against Jinko, REC and Longi. REC and Hanwha are also fighting over solar technology patents in the US and China.

A sixth opponent, CS Wismar, withdrew its opposition during the proceedings in early 2022.

Choice from four

Most recently, REC Solar relied on Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner. The firm has had a patent team in the German market for less than a year. At the end of 2021, a team led by former Baker McKenzie partner Jochen Herr opened an office in Munich for the US IP boutique.

Ralph Kühn of Munich-based patent law firm Qip Patentanwälte initially acted for REC in the patent application process. In 2019, he transferred the client to London law firm Mewburn Ellis. Then, in April 2022, another change of representatives took place as Jochen Ehlers of Eisenführ Speiser took over representation. However, Ehlers then handed the client to the Finnegan Henderson team in June 2022.

Andreas Schmid

In the 2020 infringement proceedings at the Düsseldorf Regional Court, REC relied on a team from Taylor Wessing.

Hanwha looks international

Hanwha relied on a mixed team from Hogan Lovells. Patent attorney Andreas Schmid and litigator Steffen Steininger have experience in patent disputes involving solar technology, for example representing SolarEdge in EPO opposition proceedings against Huawei. They also acted in nullity proceedings against SMA Solar.

Teams from Hoyng ROKH Monegier represented the client in the infringement proceedings in the Netherlands and Germany.

Practitioners such as Thomas Kimpfbeck and firms such as Hoffmann Eitle acted for the various strawmen in proceedings.

For REC Solar
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner (Munich): Jochen Herr, Moritz Meckel (both partners, both litigators and patent attorneys); associate: Sarah Rodriguez (patent attorney, London)

For Dominik Stauber
Zimmermann & Partner (Munich): Thomas Leidescher, Frank Steinbach (both partners, both patent attorneys)

For second opponent (strawman)
Thomas Kimpfbeck (Freising)

For Solarwatt
Meissner Bolte (Munich): Jasper Werhahn (partner)

For Hanwha
Hogan Lovells (Munich): Andreas Schmid (patent attorney; lead revocation), Steffen Steininger (lead litigation) (all partners); associates: Cédric Rohr, Miriam Werner (both patent attorneys)

For fifth opponent (strawman)
Hoffmann Eitle (Munich): Roland Schieren

For CS Wismar
btb IP Bungartz Baltzer Patentanwälte (Cologne): Klaus Bungartz