Photo Source: SSE Roadshow
CosMX has been ordered to pay RMB 9.9 million in damages to its rival Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) in a patent infringement case, as per a recent ruling by the Fujian High People’s Court.
The ruling, disclosed in an announcement by CosMX on September 15 regarding litigation progress, also requires CosMX to halt the manufacturing and selling of battery cells related to the disputed patent and to bear litigation costs of RMB 52,600.
In response, CosMX confirmed that it would continue to monitor the case’s progress and is preparing to appeal the decision.
The case began in 2022 when ATL accused CosMX of infringing its patent titled “An Electrolyte and Electrochemical Device” (Patent No. ZL201811108529.X). Initially, ATL sought RMB 11 million in damages. In July 2023, ATL amended its claims, raising the damages demand to RMB 1.1 billion, and the case was transferred to the Fujian High People’s Court for trial.
The court ultimately ruled that CosMX had infringed ATL’s patent and issued a ruling mandating the cessation of the production and sale of the relevant battery cells.
This ruling is part of a wider patent dispute between the two companies, spanning several years and jurisdictions. According to CosMX’s 2024 annual report, ATL had filed 21 patent infringement lawsuits against CosMX across China, the U.S., and Germany. Of these, 12 cases were voluntarily withdrawn by ATL, while 2 were dismissed by courts. In the remaining cases, five have been found to involve infringement by CosMX products in the first instance. Notably, one of ATL’s patents was later declared invalid by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
In the U.S., CosMX has been challenging several of ATL’s patents through Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings. While the results have been mixed at the preliminary stage, legal analysts suggest that the current U.S. patent policy may favor ATL’s position due to stronger protection of intellectual property rights under the Trump administration.
Despite the ongoing litigation, CosMX has also been strengthening its position through strategic patent acquisitions. Recently, CosMX acquired several key lithium battery patents from Panasonic, adding to its intellectual property portfolio. The patents include:
Patent No. ZL201880018653.9, titled “Secondary Battery”;
Patent No. ZL200880001215.8, titled “Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Secondary Battery”;
Patent No. ZL200710008331.X, titled “Lithium Secondary Battery”.
The patent transfers were completed between June and July 2025, and these acquisitions are expected to impact future legal battles and market dynamics.
In addition to its patent acquisitions, CosMX has continued to invest heavily in research and development (R&D). In the first half of 2025, the company allocated RMB 81.81 million to R&D, which accounted for 13.42% of its total revenue—a 23.20% increase from the previous year.
As of June 30, 2025, CosMX holds 2,377 valid domestic patents, including 725 invention patents, 1,624 utility model patents, and 28 design patents. The company has also filed nearly 6,000 intellectual property applications in total, reinforcing its commitment to innovation in the competitive lithium battery market.
