2021 (Gyo-Ke) 10080 [Graphic Display Medium] <Honda>

日本語原文 / Japanese original

Article information

Article type: Case note

Category: Other Japanese law

Topics: —

First published on this website: 2026-11-01

Display and classification checked: November 2, 2026

Originally published on Ameblo: 2024-12-10 (Japan time). Full English translation.

https://ameblo.jp/hideki-takaishi/entry-12878154847.html

2021 (Gyo-Ke) 10080 [Graphic Display Medium] <Honda>

*The cited reference contains no limitation.

⇒ Evidence from the filing date shows disclosure of non-light-transmitting ink as well.

“At the filing date … light-transmitting … CMY inks were widely used …; a person skilled in the art would readily have understood Exhibit Ko 4, which contains no statement or suggestion limiting it to non-light-transmitting … ink, as compatible with light-transmitting … ink.”

(Excerpt from the court's reasoning)

　…Since CMY inks having light-transmitting properties (transparency) were widely used in solvent inkjet printing at the filing date, even if non-light-transmitting inks were sometimes used at that date, a person skilled in the art encountering Exhibit Ko 4—which is compatible with solvent inkjet printing and …contains no statement or suggestion limiting solvent inkjet printing to non-light-transmitting inks—would readily have understood it as compatible with solvent inkjet printing using light-transmitting inks. …The JPO decision's contrary finding is erroneous.

https://www.courts.go.jp/app/files/hanrei_jp/172/091172_hanrei.pdf

Translator’s notes (editorial)

The author’s summary says 非透光 (“non-light-transmitting”), whereas the quoted reasoning concerns 透光 (“light-transmitting”). Both source statements are retained.

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