Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions 
Meta Subscription Push Could Add Billions in Recurring Revenue, Says Rosenblatt 
Macquarie Names Five Taiwan AI Stocks Set to Benefit From Data Center Growth in 2026 
Universal Music Group Rejects Pershing Square Takeover Proposal 
Synopsys Q2 FY2026 Earnings Beat Driven by AI and Semiconductor Demand 
NIO CEO Says China’s Auto Industry Has Passed Its Golden Era Amid Weak Car Sales 
Morgan Stanley Names Top AI Security and Data Center Stocks for 2026 
Sable Offshore Wins Key Court Battle Over California Oil Pipeline 
Dell Raises 2027 Revenue Forecast as AI Server Demand Drives Record Quarterly Results 
JPMorgan Sees Biotech Sector at Turning Point, Upgrades Top Pharma Stocks 
Elon Musk Explores Possible Tesla-SpaceX Merger Amid Growing AI Investments 
Kentucky School District Secures $27 Million in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Settlements 
Nvidia and Microsoft to Launch AI-Powered Windows PCs at Computex 2026 
US Quantum Stocks Surge After $2 Billion Government Investment 
Huawei Chip Breakthrough Sparks Rally in Chinese Semiconductor Stocks 
European EV Sales Surge in April 2026 as Tesla and Chinese Automakers Gain Ground 
Samsung to Invest $1.5 Billion in Vietnam Semiconductor Testing Plant by 2027 
South Korea launched an investigation after suspicions of patent infringement against mobile phone batteries that were made in China surfaced. The officials will check if a patent violation was indeed committed or not.
According to The Korea Economic Daily, Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. and Japan’s Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. Ltd. requested an investigation, and the officials said both Chinese and some Korean firms would be checked.
Companies to Be Investigated
The country’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) confirmed on Thursday, Jan. 11, that it would initiate an investigation covering Chinese battery makers, manufacturers of high-nickel cathodes, and their Korean importers.
The request for the probe comes after the Japanese chip research and development firm Semiconductor Energy Laboratory alleged that a China-based smartphone maker and a Korean importer that sells these gadgets have infringed its battery patents.
LG Chem also claimed that three Chinese companies producing the high-nickel cathode NCM811 violated its protected patents. It added that the Korean importer of the products committed the same violation as well.
How the Patent was Infringed
The leading battery maker explained that NCM811 is made with a combination of nickel, cobalt, and manganese. It uses the 8:1:1 ratio to make its battery material, which is a key component for making batteries. The high percentage of nickel increases capacity and lowers the price of cathodes, so this unique formula is a patented detail.
In any case, CEO Insights Asia reported that the probe shows the magnified scrutiny on intellectual property (IP) matters in the tech industry, especially in smartphone production. Moreover, the inquiry mirrors South Korea’s commitment to guarantee fair competition while protecting IP rights. Meanwhile, Korea’s MOTIE did not disclose the names of the Chinese firms under investigation.
Photo by: Lasse Jensen/Unsplash
