Ampt sues SolarEdge over patent infringement

Ampt sues SolarEdge over patent infringement

Ampt LLC, filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission ("ITC") against SolarEdge Technologies, Inc., to seek the ITC ban of import of SolarEdge power systems and components that infringe Ampt's patents. Simultaneously, Ampt also filed a similar patent infringement action against SolarEdge in the U.S. District Court in Delaware for patent infringement, substantial monetary damages and an injunction.

Ampt is the world's leading provider of power optimizers for large-scale photovoltaic ("PV") system, which invented power optimizers that are used in large solar plants to lower the cost of energy production and improve performance in new systems; upgrade existing systems; enable low-cost solar energy storage systems; and improve operations and maintenance.

Ampt alleged that SolarEdge's solar power systems unlawfully used Ampt's optimizer technology which thereby infringes one or more claims from eight of Ampt's U.S. patents. These patents describe improved ways of converting electrical power from a solar energy source to make it available for use in a variety of applications.

Ampt's complaint prays for an exclusion order banning the import of SolarEdge products into the United States. Additionally, Ampt also seeks a ban on the sale of infringing products in the U.S. after they are imported. The infringing products include SolarEdge power optimizers for solar panels, inverters for solar power systems and solar power systems using both.

SolarEdge is an Israel based company. It is stated that the alleged infringing products are manufactured in Israel, China, Vietnam and Hungary.

Ampt has leveraged these innovative technologies to develop industry-leading products that are deployed around the world in mission-critical solar power plants. Ampt has over the years spent millions of dollars on the development of its power optimizers and its related products. The extentive investment in labour and capital have resulted in more than 60 issued patents, out of which 30 are US patents.

In the ITC action, Ampt asserts that SolarEdge infringes one or more claims from U.S. Patents Nos. 9,673,630 and 11,289,917. In the U.S. District Court action, Ampt asserts that SolarEdge infringes one or more claims from the aforementioned U.S. Patents, as well as from U.S. Patents Nos. 7,605,498, 7,719,140, 10,608,437, 10,886,746, 11,070,062 and 11,070,063.

Ampt is represented by Scott Bornstein, Nick Brown, Vivian Kuo and Cyrus Frelinghuysen of Greenberg Traurig, LLP.