2020 (Gyo-Ke) 10033 [Removal of Undesirable Components from an Oil Composition] <Tsuruoka>
Updated: 2 days ago
Article information
Article type: Case note
Category: Patents
Topics: Motivation and teaching away
First published on this website: 2026-11-01
Display and classification checked: November 2, 2026
Originally published on Ameblo: 2024-08-03 (Japan time). Full English translation.
2020 (Gyo-Ke) 10033 [Removal of Undesirable Components from an Oil Composition] <Tsuruoka>
*The cited invention had a different purpose, but it was well known to produce the same effect.
⇒ A common feature
“Invention 7 … does not differ from … treatment with an aqueous fluid … in that it can separate and remove at least some of the impurities from the oil.”
(Excerpt from the court's reasoning)
It is found that, as of the priority date, both performing degumming before deacidification by alkali refining in oil refining … and, as one common degumming method, contacting an oil composition with an aqueous fluid such as water or steam to separate and remove hydrophilic impurities including hydrated gums from the oil were well-known technologies. Further, …as of the priority date, degumming or washing with water before deacidification by distillation (physical refining) was well known, and …it was also well known that proteinaceous compounds are removed by contacting an oil composition with an aqueous fluid such as water or steam and then separating it. …Thus, step (b) of Invention 7 must be said to be no different from the above degumming or water-washing treatment using an aqueous fluid such as water or steam, in that it can separate and remove from the oil at least some hydrophilic impurities, including proteinaceous compounds. …
Exhibit Ko 2 states that the oil may be pretreated before the stripping step…. …Furthermore, …given that degumming or water washing using an aqueous fluid such as water or steam before stripping was well known, a person skilled in the art would naturally have been motivated to perform such degumming or water washing before the stripping treatment in the invention in Exhibit Ko 2, thereby separating and removing at least some hydrophilic impurities from the oil.
Update history
The first-published date remains unchanged. Display maintenance, classification changes, related-article updates, and text corrections are recorded separately.
November 1, 2026: First published on this website.
November 2, 2026: Added article information, classification, topics, language navigation, related articles where the same case was confirmed, consultation guidance, and SEO. The original text and first-published date were preserved.
Comments