The US International Trade Commission released a final statement of opinion stating that SK Innovation infringed on LG Energy Solutions’ trade secrets. yunhap news
On the 5th, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) released the final opinion on the infringement of battery trade secrets between LG Energy Solutions and SK Innovation. Through this, ITC stated that SK infringed LG’s trade secrets.
In addition, it said that if SK Innovation did not infringe on its trade secrets, it would take 10 years for SK Innovation to independently develop its products, so the period of the US import ban was decided to be 10 years.
According to the concluding opinion, ITC acknowledged the 11 categories and 22 trade secrets that LG claimed to have been infringed based on the verification of LG Energy Solutions. These are trade secrets for the entire process, raw material and parts specifications, and various manufacturing processes. Accordingly, ITC confirmed a preliminary decision to lose SK Innovation (early loss) and issued an order to stop import bans and trade secret infringement.
Accordingly, the 22 trade secrets claimed by LG were judged to be subject to legal relief orders, and the period for the US import ban was also set to 10 years in agreement with LG’s claims, ITC said. SK Innovation suggested a one-year ban on imports, but ITC did not accept it, saying, “SK would not have been able to develop the information within 10 years without the infringed LG’s trade secrets.” “We didn’t have enough manpower or ability to develop intrusion technology within 10 years,” he pointed out.
In addition, ITC said, “We judged that SK’s destruction of evidence was at a serious level,” and said, “The destruction of evidence was carried out by the heads of the organization under the direction of a high level.” Next, regarding the deletion of SK’s data pointed out from the time of the preliminary decision, he said, “We confirm that the data collection and destruction were rampant and tolerated by SK. I judged that I did it.”
However, SK Innovation said that ITC was not able to properly identify the infringement of trade secrets and that it would actively demand that US President Joe Biden exercise his veto.
Reporter Juhee Hong [email protected]
