U.S. Solar Panel Maker First Solar

(Reuters) – U.S. solar panel maker First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) has notified several large rivals of alleged patent infringements related to its advanced solar technology, executives said during a conference call with analysts on Tuesday.

First Solar has issued letters via its attorneys to several notable companies: Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ), JA Solar, Longi, Jinko Solar, and Trina Solar, as outlined in a slide presentation on its website.

In July, First Solar announced that it holds patents for the Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) crystalline silicon technology and has been investigating potential infringements by competitors.

TOPCon's development has led to a surge of lawsuits over the past year among many of the leading solar manufacturers globally.

None of the companies targeted by First Solar were immediately available for comment.