S.Korea to probe Chinese batteries' alleged patent violations

South Korea will investigate alleged patent infringement by Chinese makers of smartphone batteries and high-nickel cathodes upon requests by LG Chem Ltd. and Japan’s Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said on Thursday that it will launch an investigation into Chinese battery and cathode manufacturers and their Korean importers.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, a leading chip research and development firm, has claimed that a Chinese smartphone maker, and the Korean company that imports and sells the mobile devices, have violated the Japanese company’s battery patents.

In addition, Korea’s top chemicals maker LG Chem has said three Chinese firms that make NCM811, a high-nickel cathode, as well as their Korean importer, have infringed on its patents. 

In NCM811, nickel, cobalt and manganese are combined at an 8:1:1 ratio. The high percentage of nickel boosts capacity and reduces the price of cathodes, a key material in electric vehicle batteries.

The investigation into alleged patent infringement shows that competition in the secondary battery industry has intensified in the intellectual property rights area, according to an official at the Korea Trade Commission, a government agency.

Write to Kyung-Min Kang at kkm1026@hankyung.com

Jihyun Kim edited this article.