US International Trade Commission Finds Patent Violation by Voltage in Photovoltaic Cable Assemblies Case
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The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a final decision in the case against Voltage, LLC and Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co. These companies were found to have violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. This decision comes as a result of their actions involving certain photovoltaic trunk bus cable assemblies and components.
The case was originally brought forward by Shoals Technologies Group, LLC. They claimed that Voltage infringed on U.S. Patent No. 12,015,375 and U.S. Patent No. 12,015,376. The ITC agreed with Shoals Technologies, finding that Voltage’s products unlawfully infringed specific claims of these patents.
The ITC has ordered a limited exclusion order, or LEO, against Voltage’s infringing products. This means Voltage is prohibited from importing and selling these products in the United States. Alongside the LEO, the ITC has set a one hundred percent bond on importations of these products during the period of Presidential review.
The investigation into this case began on February 18, 2025. Shoals alleged Voltage’s products infringed multiple claims of the two patents in question. During the process, Voltage attempted to argue that the patents were not enforceable. However, the ITC affirmed that Voltage did not prove these arguments.
The Commission’s Final Initial Determination (FID) supported Shoals’ stance that they satisfied the requirements to protect the patents. In particular, they met the criteria related to the technology covered by the patents and demonstrated economic significance within the U.S.
While Voltage sought to challenge these findings and proposed alternate designs they claimed were non-infringing, the ITC did not find these arguments convincing. The Commission decided that some of Voltage’s alternate designs still infringed upon Shoals’ patents.
Multiple public interest statements were submitted during the case. These came from U.S. Senators, a Representative, and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. Despite these opinions, the Commission decided the public interest did not prevent issuing the exclusion order.
Voltage filed a motion requesting a review based on a related court case opinion. However, the ITC did not modify their decision based on this motion.
The ITC’s decision concludes this investigation, taking a significant step to protect patent holders’ rights in the U.S.
Lisa Barton, Secretary to the Commission, issued the order on June 25, 2026, reaffirming the ITC’s commitment to upholding fair trade regulations.
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