GEN Law is pleased to announce that it has successfully represented Zhuhai CosMX Battery Co., Ltd. in winning a high-profile patent litigation against its competitor before China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC). As a significant victory, the SPC’s Intellectual Property Court (Case No.: (2023) Zui Gao Fa Zhi Min Zhong 2042) reversed the lower court decision and ruled that Zhuhai CosMX does not infringe ATL’s lithium battery patent.

The GEN trial team was led by partners Johnson Li and Jerry Xia, with support from associates Alex Shen, Chao Yin and Ruyi Cheng, representing Zhuhai CosMX and two other appellants.

Case Background
This widely concerned dispute between Zhuhai CosMX and ATL has drawn considerable industry attention due to its implications for the lithium battery sector and the parties’ prominent market positions. The case centered on Chinese Patent No. 201410782528.9 titled "Electrode Sheet and Lithium-Ion Battery Containing Same." On April 23, 2024, a five-judge panel at China’s Supreme Court conducted a public hearing and published case details on its official portal.

Court Ruling
The Fuzhou Intermediate Court’s initial ruling had ordered Zhuhai CosMX to cease manufacturing activities and pay approximately USD 4.1 million in damages and legal costs. The Supreme Court’s final judgment completely overturned this decision, dismissing all claims by ATL and ordering them to bear all litigation expenses.

Success Story
Upon taking over the appeal, GEN’s team conducted a forensic analysis of both the infringement proceedings and related patent validity challenges. The breakthrough came through reinterpreting technical features in the patent claims versus the accused products. GEN’s arguments focused on whether the "protrusions" on electrode sheets constituted part of the "current collector" or separate "tabs" – a crucial technical distinction central to the infringement determination.

During intensive court hearings and post-trial submissions, GEN systematically dismantled the infringement allegations through multiple technical and legal arguments. The court ultimately endorsed GEN’s interpretation, noting that the protrusions were "more consistent with the preparation process and cognitive logic" and "more suitably deemed part of the current collector." This nuanced reasoning provides rare transparency into how courts resolve complex technical disputes, with the judgment meticulously examining naming conventions, physical properties, functionality, and manufacturing processes of the disputed component.

The successful reversal highlights GEN’s capability to reframe technical narratives in high-stake IP disputes, securing complete exoneration for a major player in the critical lithium battery industry.

Any questions about this case should be directed to johnsonli@genlaw.com or jerryxia@genlaw.com.