A trial underway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin is considered by court observers a test case for future intellectual-property battles between the U.S and China. It's alleged that Sinovel Wind Group, China's largest wind turbine maker, stole software from a U.S. company to help improve wind turbine efficiency. The trial could result in billions of dollars of fines for Sinovel, which denies any wrongdoing. CGTN's Dan Williams watched events unfold in court.

DAN WILLIAMS MADISON, WISCONSIN The trial here at the U.S. District Court of Wisconsin has garnered significant attention and could have much wider implications beyond the state capital of Wisconsin.

This is being seen as a test case for intellectual-property battles between the U.S. and China. It comes months after the Trump administration moved to take a harder line on intellectual property theft.

The Chinese wind turbine maker 'Sinovel Wind Group' is accused of stealing software that controls wind turbines from American Superconductor Corp or AMSC.

Sinovel had been a key customer. But federal prosecutors indicted the company and two of its executives in 2013 on criminal charges of stealing trade secrets.

The indictment claims the theft cost AMSC more than 800 million dollars and caused AMSC's stock to plunge more than 40% overnight and led to hundreds of layoffs.

DAN WILLIAMS MADISON, WISCONSIN The case stems back to 2011, when Sinovel stopped accepting deliveries of electrical control systems for its turbines from AMSC, claiming the technology didn't comply with new Chinese power grid requirements. Sinovel - in its opening statement - denied any wrongdoing. Much of Day One was spent swearing in a 15-person jury that was then followed by opening statements. The trial is expect to last three weeks. Dan Williams, CGTN, Madison, Wisconsin.