SK Innovation and LG Chem's "battery legal battle" has been intensifying with the start of the second round. Following the LG Chem's lawsuit against SK Innovation in April for violating business secrets, SK Innovation sued against LG Chem for compensation in the wake of defamation.
Meanwhile, the legal battle is expected to intensify as SK Innovation is reportedly preparing to file an additional lawsuit later this month against LG Chem.
According to industry sources on Aug. 20, SK Innovation has decided to file a patent infringement lawsuit against LG Chem in the U.S. at the end of this month.
"Although detailed schedules and patent infringement cannot be disclosed, it is expected to be an issue regarding battery process and will be submitted as early as late this month or early next month," said a representative for SK Innovation.
LG Chem earlier filed a complaint with the U.S. ITC and the local court in Delaware in April, accusing SK Innovation of violating business secrets. LG Chem claims that major business secrets related to electric vehicle batteries have been leaked due to SK Innovation's "staffing" of LG Chem.
Calling it a "groundless ankle grab," SK Innovation filed a lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court against LG Chem in June, claiming there was no breach of business secrets.
SK Innovation claims that although the ITC decided to launch the probe in May, no evidence launch procedure (discovery) has been carried out. "If there is an ITC announcement, it will begin the discovery process about a month later, but the process has yet to begin because LG Chem has failed to submit evidence to prove its claim," a company official said.
LG Chem, on the other hand, says the ITC probe is proceeding without problems under the preliminary ruling in June next year and the roadmap for the final ruling in October. "Following the decision to launch the probe in May, the discovery process is also underway," an LG Chem official said, adding that it is worrisome that SK Innovation is questioning the investigation process.