(Yicai) Feb. 11 -- China's Trina Solar has filed two lawsuits against CSI Solar and its Changshu subsidiary over alleged infringement of two core patents, seeking nearly CNY1.1 billion (USD145 million) in compensation. The news impacted both companies' shares.

CSI [SHA: 688472], a Chinese unit of Canadian Solar, fell 5.6 percent to CNY10.23 (USD1.40) in Shanghai today, following Trina Solar's announcement yesterday.

Trina [SHA: 688599] declined 3.1 percent to CNY17.89 today.

The lawsuits, filed with the High People's Court of Jiangsu province, are part of normal intellectual property protection activities, a source at Changzhou-based Trina told Yicai today. The alleged infringement by CSI primarily involves tunnel oxide passivated contact solar cells. TOPCon solar cells are high-efficiency silicon solar cells that enhance traditional passivated emitter and rear cell technology.

The court has accepted both cases but has not yet scheduled a trial date.

The source added that the infringement can be determined based on manufacturing technology usage, and the legal department is currently calculating CSI's profits derived from Trina's patented technologies.

Trina accuses CSI of infringing on two patents related to solar cell modules and their manufacturing methods, according to the official announcement. Trina demands that CSI immediately cease the infringing activities, destroy existing inventory and specialized equipment, and cover litigation costs and expenses totaling CNY2 million (USD273,780).

A CSI representative told the media that the photovoltaic company plans to issue a public statement regarding this matter.

Editor: Emmi Laine