On December 2, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China rendered a final decision which fully accepted Asahi Kasei’s claim of patent infringement regarding a separator for lithium ion secondary batteries and ordered Shenzhen Xu Ran Electronic and others to stop selling the above products and to pay compensation for damages.
In August 2018, Asahi Kasei Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hideki Kobori; hereinafter, “Asahi Kasei”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit with Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court against Shenzhen Xu Ran (旭冉) Electronic Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Xu Ran (旭然) Electronic Co., Ltd.* (hereinafter, “Xu Ran Electronic and Others”).
Both companies are distributors of Japan-based W-SCOPE Corporation and selling separators for lithium ion secondary batteries in Shenzhen, China, and act as joint defendants.
Based on its Chinese patent (Patent No. ZL200680046997.8) relating to separator for lithium ion secondary battery, Asahi Kasei is seeking an injunction prohibiting Xu Ran Electronic and Others from selling their “single-layer W-scope” battery separators in China and compensation for damages (a total of 1 million yuan).
In April 2020, the Intermediate People’s Court rendered a decision upholding Asahi Kasei’s claim of patent infringement. In response, Xu Ran Electronic and Others filed an appeal with the Supreme People’s Court.
On December 2, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court rendered a final decision which fully accepted Asahi Kasei’s claim of patent infringement and ordered to stop selling the above prod-ucts and to pay compensation for damages.
Asahi Kasei will pay close attention to issues concerning intellectual property rights, and if deemed necessary, take specific measures proactively against any infringement.
