SolarEdge products face import ban as U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) launches patent infringement investigation

Bloomberg reports that SolarEdge’s solar power optimizers and inverters could face an imports ban as the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) said it would investigate a smaller rival’s patent-infringement allegations.

In its complaint on July 28, Ampt LLC requested the ITC to ban imports of SolarEdge power systems and components that allegedly infringe two of its patents.

Ampt is also seeking a ban on the sale of these products in the U.S. after they are imported.

“We appreciate the Commission’s decision to investigate SolarEdge’s unlawful use of our proprietary technology without asking our permission or compensating us,” said Levent Gun, Ampt’s chief executive officer said in a statement via Bloomberg. “Today marks the first step towards ensuring fair competition in the United States and stopping SolarEdge from violating our hard-earned, patented technology.”

The publication also adds a statement from SolarEdge that says, “Ampt has been unsuccessfully challenging its patents for years” and “is now shopping around its claims to other courts.”

The commission said it would set a target date to complete the investigation 45 days after initiating the probe.