PR87371

SINGAPORE, Dec. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

  -- The Company's shingled solar cell panel technology patent validity upheld

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

leader, today announced that the company has received a positive patent

validity ruling in a patent invalidation action filed in China by the Chinese

solar manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. The action was filed

against one of Maxeon's patents for the proprietary and fundamental shingled

solar cell panel technology used to deploy solar panels that Maxeon designs and

sells under the 'SunPower Performance' brand name.

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In May 2020, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

accepted a Request for Invalidation filed by LONGi Green Energy Technology Co.,

Ltd. of Maxeon's patent regarding high efficiency shingled solar cell panels

(China Patent N° 201710523237.1). Following an oral hearing in October 2020,

CNIPA reviewed LONGi's claims of invalidity and dozens of prior art documents,

ultimately concluding that Maxeon's patent is valid. This decision by CNIPA reaffirms

Maxeon's intellectual property rights in China for shingled solar cell panel technology.

Shingled solar cell panels are made by separating solar cells into smaller

solar cell strips and subsequently connecting the resulting solar cell strips

in an over-lapping layout using conductive adhesive. The result is a higher

power, higher efficiency panel, with enhanced reliability and improved

durability compared to conventional panels.

The Performance shingled solar cell panel architecture and manufacturing

processes were pioneered by Silicon Valley-based start-up company Cogenra

Solar. SunPower Corporation acquired Cogenra in 2015, and Maxeon retained the

shingling technology IP rights following its spin-off from SunPower in August

2020. Performance solar panels are manufactured in China by Huansheng

Photovoltaic (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., Maxeon's 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.

"This ruling is an important confirmation of the strength of our patents and

the underlying innovation behind our Performance panels. This technology 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," said Jeff Waters, CEO of Maxeon Solar

Technologies. "We feel very strongly about the importance of upholding and

safeguarding our intellectual property rights. Respecting IP is critical for

the orderly ongoing development of the solar industry."

"Our intellectual property is a key business asset. We will vigorously defend

our intellectual property rights and take actions against its unauthorized use,

as we have against Canadian Solar Japan K.K." added Lindsey Wiedmann, Maxeon's

Chief Legal Officer. In September 2020, Maxeon filed a lawsuit in Tokyo

District Court, Japan, alleging 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 SunPower

Performance solar panels.

About Maxeon Solar Technologies

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

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

brand solar panels in more than 100 countries, operating the SunPower brand

worldwide outside the United States. The company is a 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. For more information

about how Maxeon is Powering Positive Change(TM) visit us at www.maxeon.com, on

LinkedIn (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3020182-1&h=4154131349&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fmaxeon%2F&a=LinkedIn )

and on Twitter @maxeonsolar (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3020182-1&h=1820066450&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FMaxeonSolar&a=%40maxeonsolar ).

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 continued validity of the Company's

intellectual property rights, its ability to safeguard its intellectual

property and the ability to incentivize and promote development, as well as the

status of the Company's ongoing litigation, associated costs, and probability

of success. 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 SEC from time to time, including our

Form 20-F, which was declared effective by the SEC on August 4, 2020,

particularly under the heading "Item 3.D. Risk Factors." Copies of these

filings are available online from the SEC or on the Financials & Filings

section of our Investor Relations website at

www.maxeon.com/financials-filings/sec-filings. 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. Visit

www.maxeon.com/trademarks for more information.

Source - Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd.

CONTACT: Investor Contact: The Blueshirt Group, Gary Dvorchak, CFA,

gary@blueshirtgroup.com, Mobile: +1 (323) 240-5796; or Media Contact: Anna

Porta, Anna.Porta@Maxeon.com, Mobile: +39 (345) 7706205