BYD VP Liu Xueliang Recalls 2003-2005 Sony Lithium Battery Patent Lawsuit

Recently, BYD Shareholder Planet released an exclusive interview video in which Liu Xueliang, Vice President of BYD and General Manager of the Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, reviewed the patent litigation process between BYD and Sony. Around 2002, BYD sent samples of its independently developed lithium-ion batteries to Sony. In July 2003, Sony sued BYD in the Tokyo District Court for infringing two of its lithium battery patents and sought to prohibit the sale of BYD's related products in Japan; Sanyo also filed a lawsuit in the United States. At that time, Sanyo was the global leader in nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries, while Sony was the global leader in lithium-ion batteries. Liu Xueliang appeared in court on behalf of the company to respond to the lawsuit, forming a legal team composed of several lawyers and several law firms. BYD submitted nearly 200 debate documents and evidentiary materials, totaling more than 5,000 pages. In January 2005, the Japan Patent Office ruled that the Sony patent involved was invalid. After Sony appealed, the Tokyo Intellectual Property High Court dismissed its request in November of the same year. In December of the same year, Sony withdrew all allegations. The case was selected as one of China's top ten intellectual property cases of that year. During the litigation, BYD received an order from Sharp in Japan, and Chairman Wang Chuanfu traveled to Sharp's headquarters. Thereafter, Sony, Sharp, Hitachi, Makita, and Canon became BYD customers.