The case started from April 28, 2003, Energizer and Everead jointly filed a complaint with U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), charging seven Chinese battery companies including Sichuan Changhong, Fujian Nanfu, Ningbo Shuanglu with patent infringements of mercury-free alkaline batteries, requiring the USITC to institute the so-called "section 337 investigation".

After China Battery Industry Association learned the case, it launched technology researches on both Chinese and American battery products and invited experienced American lawyers to defend the case.

The USITC made a final ruling after three years investigation that the so-called mercury-free alkaline battery patent is invalid and Chinese battery companies did not constitute infringements.

By People's Daily Online