South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (LGES) has initiated legal proceedings in the US against Chinese battery maker EVE Energy Company, alleging that its lithium-ion batteries infringe certain LG Energy Solution patents.

A lawsuit has been brought before the US International Trade Commission (ITC) by Tulip Innovation, an independent patent licensing company that manages and licenses lithium-ion battery patents on behalf of LGES and Japan’s Panasonic Energy, seeking to block imports of the batteries into the US market.

Earlier this year, Tulip Innovation successfully ended a similar patent infringement lawsuit against Sunwoda Electronic Company Ltd, resulting in the Chinese battery maker agreeing to license LGES’ technologies in South Korea and Germany.

Tulip Innovation confirmed that the lawsuit against Eve Energy covers infringements of patents for tables-cell technology, separator technology, and cell safety features, which have been critical in enabling increased performance while maintaining safety.

Tulip Group’s chairman, Giustino de Sanctis, said in a statement: “Tulip has worked closely with LGES to initiate this action before the ITC seeking the exclusion of infringing battery products,” adding that “the prompt filing of new enforcement proceedings demonstrates the commitment of the Tulip program to addressing the proliferation of unlicensed lithium-ion battery products across various industries and preserving fair and competitive market conditions.”