Tokyo District Court, Case No. 2023 (Wa) 70402

Sep 28

2 min read

Updated: Oct 14

Read the Japanese version / 日本語版を読む

Article information

Article type: Case note

Display and classification checked: 2026-09-30

Categories: Patents

Topics: Inventive step / Motivation and teaching away / Damages / Joint torts

Published on this website: 2026-09-29

Tokyo District Court, Case No. 2023 (Wa) 70402

[Siphonic rain gutter system] (Presiding Judge Nakajima)

*Inventive step recognized.

The inventions in Exhibits Otsu A25 and Otsu A26 lack motivation for combination because their technical approaches are opposites (the former generates turbulence; the latter prevents it).

The invention in Exhibit Otsu A21 (ordinary drainage) and that in Exhibit Otsu A25 (siphonic drainage) differ in technical concept, and there is no motivation to combine them.

⇒ The cited invention (Exhibit Otsu A21) was identified as a "conventional drainage system" from the design index of a flow coefficient of "0.6," and was held to differ in technical concept from a siphonic drainage system.

Because the defendants merely aided the infringement and do not qualify as "persons who infringed," the profits they earned from component sales are not included in "profits" under Article 102(2) of the Patent Act.

(Quoted wording is translated.)

https://lnkd.in/gPpdpynT

https://lnkd.in/gMwaFDcX

平成17年(ワ)779号根抵当権設定登記抹消登記手続請求事件 — courts.go.jp

Originally posted on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7510141249673232384/

Updates and corrections

This log starts on 30 September 2026. Display and classification checks are distinct from a review of the legal analysis.

2026-09-30 — Presentation update: added the article type, this change log and a link to consultation options. The existing article text was preserved.

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Tokyo District Court, Case No. 2023 (Wa) 70402

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