PR85837

SINGAPORE, Sept. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ:MAXN), a global leader in solar

innovation, today announced that it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against

Canadian Solar Japan K.K., in Tokyo District Court, Japan.

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The lawsuit filing alleges Canadian Solar Japan infringes Maxeon's Japan Patent

No. JP6642841B2 ("Shingled Solar Cell Module") for the proprietary and

fundamental shingled solar cell panel technology used to deploy solar panels

that Maxeon designs, manufactures and sells under the 'SunPower Performance'

brand name. Canadian Solar Japan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar

Inc., which is headquartered in Canada with operations and production

facilities in China and in South-East Asia.

Shingled solar cell panels are typically made from separating solar cells into

smaller solar cell strips and then connecting the resulting solar cell strips

in an over-lapping layout. The result is a higher power, higher efficiency panel,

with enhanced reliability and improved durability compared to conventional panels.

The Performance panel architecture and manufacturing processes were pioneered

by Silicon Valley-based start-up company Cogenra Solar which was acquired by

SunPower Corporation in 2015. In the subsequent spinoff of Maxeon Solar

Technologies, Maxeon retained the use of the SunPower brand in the more than

100 markets it serves. Maxeon produces its SunPower Performance solar panels in

China at Huansheng Photovoltaic (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., its joint venture with

Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co., Ltd. With more than 3 gigawatts deployed

across over 60 countries to date, Performance panels are the industry's most

deployed shingled solar cell panel technology.

"We've built our business on a 35-year foundation of pioneering solar

innovation. The intellectual property behind our shingled solar cell technology

was developed by our talented design and engineering teams and is the result of

substantial investment," said Jeff Waters, CEO of Maxeon Solar Technologies.

"The resultant Performance technology outperforms conventional panels in

efficiency, power, reliability and aesthetics."

The innovation behind Performance panels is protected by an international

portfolio of more than 150 patents and patent applications covering shingled

solar cell and panel design, as well as key manufacturing tools and processes.

"We feel very strongly about the importance of upholding our intellectual

property rights, and view our intellectual property as a key business asset,"

added Lindsey Wiedmann, Maxeon's Chief Legal Officer. "Maxeon's patent

portfolio, which now includes more than 900 patents, helps protect the many

technical advancements we've made through the years that have led us to a

prominent position in the solar industry," continued Wiedmann. "We must

vigorously safeguard these valuable assets, and this action against Canadian

Solar is a necessary step to prevent unauthorized use of our intellectual

property.  Respect of intellectual property rights is critical to incentivize

innovation and for the orderly ongoing development of the solar industry."

About Maxeon Solar Technologies

Maxeon Solar Technologies (NASDAQ: MAXN) is Powering Positive Change(TM).

Headquartered in Singapore, Maxeon designs and sells SunPower(R) brand solar

panels across more than 100 countries and is the leader in solar innovation

with access to over 900 patents and two best-in-class solar panel product

lines. With operations in Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe and Mexico, Maxeon

products span the global rooftop and solar power plant markets through a

network of more than 1,100 trusted partners and distributors. A pioneer in

sustainable solar manufacturing, Maxeon leverages a 35-year history in the

solar industry and numerous awards for its technology.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of

the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not

limited to, statements regarding our future plans and areas of focus, our

positioning and business plans for future success, and our positioning to

enforce patent rights. These forward-looking statements are based on our

current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and involve substantial risks and

uncertainties that may cause results, performance or achievement to materially

differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. A

detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business

is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission

(SEC) from time to time, including our most recent report on Form 20-F, as

amended, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors." Copies of these filings

are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor

Relations website at www.maxeon.com/investor-relations. All forward-looking

statements in this press release are based on information currently available

to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements

in light of new information or future events.

(C) 2020 Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. MAXEON is a

registered trademark of Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. View

www.maxeon.com/trademarks for more information.

SOURCE: Maxeon Solar Technologies