IP High Court, Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) 10139 [Gaming machine] <Presiding Judge Hibiku Shimizu>
Updated: 2 days ago
Article information
Article type: Case note
Category: Patents
Topics: Inventive step, Patent corrections
First published on this website: October 2, 2026
Case number (as stated in the source): Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) 10139
Display and classification checked: October 2, 2026 (not a re-review of the legal analysis)
IP High Court, Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) 10139 [Gaming machine] <Presiding Judge Hibiku Shimizu>
The invention: In “partial auto mode,” less important effects requiring a first operation are treated as if the button had been pressed automatically. Important effects concerning whether the player wins or loses—requiring a second operation at the win/loss branch—are excluded from automatic operation and left to the player.
The cited reference disclosed “partial auto” as an auto-button setting, for example making only highly anticipated “super-hot” effects non-automatic so that the player operates the button.
⇒ No inventive step.
“Cited invention 2” presented at the refusal stage and “cited invention 1” used in the appeal decision were based on the same document, Ko 1, and were substantively common.
⇒ No unfair surprise.
Original article: https://lnkd.in/e8gYaz2z
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Update and correction history
Substantive corrections and supplements are recorded separately from classification, related-article, and display maintenance.
October 2, 2026: First publication of the author's LinkedIn text. Article type, classification, issue tags, source, and consultation guide were added.
Consultation and inquiries
October 2, 2026: Updated topic tags.
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