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Samsung SDI warns against prismatic battery patent infringement
Joo Yong-lak, executive vice president and head of Samsung SDI’s research center, delivers a keynote speech at InterBattery 2026 at Coex in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Park Jae-hyuk
Samsung SDI said Wednesday it will not tolerate patent infringement or technology theft involving its prismatic battery technology as more competitors move to enter the segment.
“We will not overlook any patent infringement or technology misappropriation involving the prismatic battery,” Joo Yong-lak, executive vice president and head of Samsung SDI’s research center, said on the sidelines of InterBattery 2026 at Coex in Seoul.
Responding to a question about competitors’ recent plans to enter the prismatic battery business, Joo said the company is closely monitoring the situation.
“As a company leading the technology, we are keeping a close eye on developments,” he said.
Joo emphasized that prismatic battery technology has a high barrier to entry.
“The technology and manufacturing processes for prismatic batteries involve very high entry barriers,” he said. “Extensive know-how and technological expertise must be accumulated across materials, components, design, manufacturing and production processes, making it difficult to achieve in a short period of time.”
He added that Samsung SDI will continue exploring ways to further differentiate its prismatic battery technology and integrate it with advanced materials.
Joo also highlighted the company’s strong intellectual property portfolio, noting that Samsung SDI holds around 1,200 registered patents related to prismatic batteries in the United States.
By comparison, competitors in China and Japan hold roughly 600 patents each, while domestic rivals possess only about 30 to 40, he said.
Samsung SDI first filed a patent related to prismatic batteries in the U.S. in 1997 and has since accumulated extensive technological expertise and intellectual property while leading the development of the technology across various fields.
Industry observers interpret the remarks as a de facto warning to competitors, as battery makers have recently accelerated efforts to develop prismatic battery products.
The statement is also seen as a public reaffirmation of Samsung SDI’s confidence in its long-accumulated patent portfolio and its commitment to strengthening intellectual property management.
At InterBattery 2026, Samsung SDI introduced “PrismStack,” a new brand for its prismatic battery technology, seen by industry officials as part of a broader strategy to reinforce its leadership in the segment.
“Amid growing concerns about technology leaks in advanced industries, Samsung SDI appears to be publicly signaling a strong determination to defend its prismatic battery patents,” an industry official said.