‘LG-SK’ battery litigation ahead of ITC decision… “Biden’s eco-friendly policy adversely affected by SK Passo”

As the final judgment of the US International Trade Commission (ITC) in relation to the lawsuit for infringement of electric vehicle battery trade secrets in progress by LG Energy Solutions and SK Innovation is approaching one day ahead, analyzes have been raised that the results could adversely affect the electric vehicle industry in the US. .

According to local foreign media such as Bloomberg News on the 10th, it was predicted that if SK Innovation loses in the stomach suit battle, it could negatively affect the eco-friendly policies of Joe Biden’s administration.

Regarding the patent litigation between SK Innovation and LG Energy, Bloomberg News said, “The first test results of President Biden’s climate change plan come out.” “The decision of the US International Trade Commission (ITC) may interfere with the US electric vehicle production. I was concerned.

“The finished car industry is investing billions of dollars to launch a new electric car, and it depends on securing batteries for success.” I can” he pointed out.

Major foreign media such as the Huffington Post also predicted that “ITC’s decision could shake the battery and electric vehicle industries in the US.”

In particular, the US media cited a report by Carol Browner, an expert and lawyer for climate change and environmental protection in the United States commissioned by SK Innovation last month, saying, “SK Innovation’s Georgia plant is important to expand the demand for electric vehicles.” SK batteries to be supplied will play an important role in electric vehicles.”

At the end of 2018, SK Innovation decided to build an electric vehicle battery plant with an annual capacity of 9.6 GWh in Jackson County Commerce City, Georgia. Since the groundbreaking ceremony in 2019, the plant, which is being built on a site of approximately 340,000 pyeong in Commerce City, is scheduled to be completed mechanically in the second half of this year and begin mass production in early 2022.

In this situation, they feared that the dispute between LG and SK could overthrow the court and overthrow the new government’s plan.

As a candidate, Biden made a big investment in eco-friendly infrastructure and aimed to invest $2 trillion in clean energy response infrastructure over the next four years.

In addition, millions of jobs were created through the construction of low-carbon infrastructure and the promotion of electric vehicle production, and the government induces the purchase of more than 3 million low-emission vehicles made in the U.S., and builds 500,000 electric vehicle public charging stations. They set up a policy to give them also.

Accordingly, local media are also paying attention to whether President Biden will exercise the ITC veto.

The President of the United States may review the ITC’s decision and invalidate the decision within 60 days of the date of the decision. So far, there have been a total of five cases where the presidential veto has been exercised against the ITC’s final judgment. Representatively, President Barack Obama vetoed the ITC’s action banning the US import of Apple products that infringed Samsung patents in 2013.

The battery litigation battle began in earnest in April 2019 when LG Energy Solutions filed a filing with SK Innovation to the ITC (U.S. International Trade Commission), claiming that the company hiring more than 100 experienced employees in the battery field and stealing trade secrets.

SK Innovation’s hiring process was legitimate, and it is refuting to clarify the hijacked trade secrets, and the litigation is entering its third year. ITC’s final judgment is expected to take place on February 10th.

With a preliminary ruling in favor of LG Energy Solutions, if SK Innovation’s alleged infringement of trade secrets is finally admitted, the electric vehicle battery business in the US is expected to become difficult.