US trade body sides with LG Chem in battery patent case vs SK Innovation

The Office of Unfair Import Investigations under the US International Trade Commission submitted a written opinion favoring LG Chem’s motion requesting sanctions against SK Innovation.

LG Chem accuses SK Innovation of destroying crucial evidence in the ongoing patent lawsuit between the two battery giants.

According to the OUII, SK Innovation based its 994 battery technology on LG Chem’s A7 battery cell.

Thereafter, SK Innovation launched a companywide effort to destroy documents related to its knowledge of LG Chem’s A7 battery cell technology even after being ordered by the court in March to surrender such documents.

OUII emphasized that SK Innovation derived its supposed 994 patent inventions from LG Chem’s A7 cell.

SK Innovation sued LG Chem last Septemeber for allegedly violating its 994 patent.

Consequently, LG Chem countered by saying that it was SK Innovation who copied LG Chem’s A7 battery cell.

LG Chem developed its A7 battery cell in 2013 and was used in the Chrysler Pacifica minivan that year.

SK Innovation, who patented its 994 technology only in 2015, questioned LG Chem why it had not patented the A7 battery cell technology if it had developed it first.

OUII’s written opinion plays a critical role in USITC decisions.