GaN Patent Battle Ends in Score-Draw

The ongoing battle over gallium nitride (GaN) patents between Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) in the US and Innoscience in China has seen both sides achieving partial victories in recent legal proceedings.

While Innoscience Technology celebrated a significant win by defeating EPC’s ’508 patent in the initial determination at the ITC, the Chief Administrative Law Judge ruled that Innoscience violated the EPC ’294 patent. Innoscience, however, maintains that the patent is invalid and awaits the ’294 IPR decision expected in March 2025.

Looking ahead, a crucial decision on the fate of Innoscience's GaN parts in the US market is set for November, which could potentially lead to a ban. Innoscience remains optimistic about the outcome, labeling EPC's lawsuits as 'misguided' and expressing confidence in achieving a complete victory.

As the legal battle intensifies, EPC's CEO, Alex Lidow, emphasized the significance of the ITC's findings, stating that the unauthorized use of EPC's patented technology by Innoscience strengthens EPC's position. Lidow highlighted the validation of EPC's patents by regulatory bodies in both the US and China, underscoring the years of dedication and innovation that went into building EPC's intellectual property portfolio.

With a robust portfolio of over 200 GaN-related patents and a wide range of products, including integrated circuits and automotive devices, EPC continues to assert its dominance in the GaN technology sector. The legal landscape further complicates as Infineon joins the fray with a lawsuit against Innoscience, potentially impacting markets in Europe and the US.