China Patent Office upholds the validity of REC Group's patent against Hanwha Q Cells TUAS, Singapore, Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- REC Group, an international pioneering solar energy company headquartered in Norway, confirms that the China Patent Office has upheld the validity of REC's award-winning split cell and junction box technology patent. This specific technology, developed in-house, is a key feature of REC Group's advanced solar panels, manufactured in REC's advanced production site in Singapore. To protect its intellectual property, REC Group filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hanwha Q Cells (Qidong) Co., Ltd. (part of Hanwha Q Cells) in February 2020. The China Patent Office's decision, announced on January 4, 2021, follows Hanwha Q Cells' request, made in May 2020, to challenge the validity of REC's patent. REC Group also filed a lawsuit against Hanwha Q Cells asserting a related patent in the U.S. District of Delaware in November 2020.