Topic guide: Inventive step
更新日：7 時間前
Article type: Topic guide
Display and classification checked: 2026-09-30
First published on this website: 2026-09-30
Explore existing articles on inventive step, design choices, motivation and teaching away. The collection includes case notes, reviews of publications and lecture materials. See each article for its discussion and sources.
Comparing three decisions against the original judgments
These decisions address different stages of inventive-step analysis: identifying the problem, defining the differences, and evaluating effects. The comparison below is editorial analysis based on the courts’ reasoning. The original Japanese passages were checked on 1 October 2026.
Decision | Question examined | Materials to compare |
Identifying the problem and the reasoning for adopting the distinguishing features | Conditions during and after use; problems and solutions disclosed in prior art | |
The basis for treating several differences as a single difference | Effects described in the specification and demonstrated by experimental evidence | |
The range of effects predictable from the claimed configuration | Knowledge at the priority date, chemical structure and use, and the cited disclosures |
Ventilation fan filter (IP High Court, 31 January 2011)
Original Japanese judgment, page 14 (excerpt)
「課題解決のために特定の構成を採用することが容易であった」ことのみでは十分ではなく，「解決課題の設定が容易であった」ことも必要となる場合がある。
The court stated that ease of identifying the problem may also be required in some cases. The comparison concerns firm adhesion during use and separation after use, rather than an abstract common aim of easier disposal.
Wood composite material and flooring (IP High Court, 20 February 2025)
Original Japanese judgment, page 23 (excerpt)
各構成が単独で奏する効果がそれぞれ個別に示されているにとどまり、各構成が組み合わさることにより一定の相乗効果が発生することを示すものとまでは認められない。
The court distinguished the individual effects of the features from synergy arising from their combination. It left open whether the experimental certificate should be considered, holding that synergy was not established even if it were considered.
Doxepin derivatives (Supreme Court, 27 August 2019)
Original Japanese judgment, page 6 (excerpt)
優先日当時本件各発明の構成が奏するものとして当業者が予測することができなかったものか否か，当該構成から当業者が予測することができた範囲の効果を超える顕著なものであるか否か
The existence of other compounds with comparable effects was insufficient by itself to resolve predictability and significance. The Supreme Court quashed the judgment and remanded the case.
Articles
Articles added on October 2, 2026
IP High Court, Reiwa 6 (Gyo-Ke) 10132 [Soil consolidation material] <Presiding Judge Hibiki Shimizu>
IP High Court, Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) 10107 [Induction heating coil unit] <Presiding Judge Hibiki Shimizu>
Articles added on October 3, 2026
Articles added on October 4, 2026
Articles added on October 6, 2026
Articles added on October 7, 2026
New articles — 2026-10-11
Related article — [US patents] CAFC, January 2025 — Honeywell v. 3G Licensing
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Materials added on October 7, 2026, by type
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Reports and activities — Trial and Appeal Practitioners Study Group Report 2024 — Theme 3 (Chemistry 2)
Reports and activities — Trial and Appeal Practitioners Study Group Report 2024 — Case 4 (Electrical 1)
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Materials added on October 17, 2026
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November 2, 2026: Added 85 newly published item(s) to the topic list and the material-type list. Existing text, lists, and prior history were preserved.
Updates and corrections
2026-10-01 | Added a comparison of three decisions, original judgment excerpts, source links and links to the case records.
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.
30 September 2026 | Navigation: added links grouped by material type and links to the books, papers, lecture materials and video archives. Existing article text was retained.
2026-10-01 | Guide navigation: added new articles to the article list and media-type list; existing content retained.
2026-10-03: Added newly published articles to the topic guide and media-type index.
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2026-10-11: Added new articles to the topic guide and the source-type list.
2026-10-01 | Name notation: replaced verified Japanese-script personal names with Roman-letter forms in this English article and its navigation. Legal analysis and original publication date unchanged.
2026-10-01 | Name notation: applied the Roman-letter personal-name spellings supplied by Hideki Takaishi to this English article and its navigation. No change to legal analysis or original publication date.
2026-10-09: Added 1 new article to the topic list and the material-type guide.
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2026-10-05: Related-article or topic-guide navigation updated.
October 6, 2026 | Navigation update: Added newly published articles to the topic guide and media-type list; existing text and links were preserved.
Case note：IP High Court, Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) 10100 [Gas-scrubber fluid purification apparatus] <Judge Shimizu>
Case note：IP High Court, Reiwa 5 (Gyo-Ke) 10100 [Gas-scrubber fluid purification apparatus] <Judge Shimizu>
Publication review：[Article / European Patents] Decisions Relating to Plausibility After G 2/21
Publication review：[Article / European Patents] Decisions Relating to Plausibility After G 2/21
Legal and examination updates：November 17, 2025
Legal and examination updates：November 17, 2025
2026-10-08: Added 3 new article(s) to the topic and media-type lists.
2026-10-10: Added newly published articles to the resource list. The original guide text was not changed.
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2026-10-13: aligned related-article, topic-guide, and other managed links with the articles’ published URLs. The original article text was not changed.
October 17, 2026: Added 7 newly published item(s) to the managed topic list. The original text, existing list, and prior history were preserved.
October 28, 2026 — HT: Corrected verified names, case references, court labels, wording or judgment links where applicable. Existing commentary and materials have been retained.
2026-11-14: Newly published articles added to the topic guide.
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