Zvi Alon
Tigo Energy, Inc., a supplier of solar and energy storage options, has filed a lawsuit towards the SunSpec Alliance within the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
In the wake of a ruling through which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) upheld Tigo claims related to the SunSpec Alliance Rapid Shutdown Specification, Tigo alleges that SunSpec and its representatives continued their long-standing marketing campaign to encourage its members to infringe on Tigo mental property by importing or promoting infringing speedy shutdown units within the U.S.
Starting with a proper notification despatched to SunSpec Alliance in October 2017, Tigo has repeatedly knowledgeable SunSpec Alliance that Tigo patents are crucial for the SunSpec Rapid Shutdown Specification. Tigo requested SunSpec to inform its members that they need to purchase a license from Tigo to fabricate, use, import, promote or supply to promote speedy shutdown units that follow the SunSpec Rapid Shutdown Specification, and that Tigo would supply a license on affordable and non-discriminatory phrases. SunSpec refused and as a substitute filed two IPR (inter pares evaluation) petitions with the USPTO in July 2021. SunSpec’s IPRs recognized 5 member firms that stood to profit from that authorized intervention.
In January 2023, the USPTO rejected certainly one of SunSpec’s IPRs in its entirety and dominated in favor of Tigo on three of 5 claims in SunSpec’s different IPR.
“The patents in our IP portfolio are core assets to Tigo, the USPTO has affirmed our claims, and we do not understand what would motivate anyone to encourage the violation of the same,” says Zvi Alon, chairman and CEO at Tigo Energy Inc. “The goal of Tigo is to offer high-quality rapid shutdown solutions to our installer base by investing in the research and development necessary to innovate. I reiterate that Tigo will offer reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing terms to SunSpec Alliance members.”
Tigo has prevailed in a earlier patent infringement litigation and presently has a pending lawsuit that features six patent infringement claims towards SMA Solar Technology America LLC. Tigo has additionally licensed its patented expertise to different solar tools producers.
