TECHNOLOGY

Intellectual Property ActivitiesIntellectual Property Activities

Intellectual Property Activities

Common refrains heard within Canon’s research and development division include, “Read patent bulletins rather than research literature” and “Create draft patents rather than reports.
Intellectual property management protects proprietary technologies while expanding the number of technologies that Canon can access through such means as cross-licensing to enhance product development capabilities.

April 23, 2024

Canon in the Top 5 Among U.S. Patent Recipients for 38 Consecutive Years and Top Japanese Company for 19 Years

Canon believes that acquiring patent rights for its proprietary technologies is an essential aspect of expanding operations globally. In the United States, Canon has been the top-ranked patent recipient among Japanese companies for 19 straight years. Canon’s intellectual property strategy consists of a defensive approach: protecting Canon’s proprietary core technologies from being infringed upon by others, and an offensive approach: to create advantages for Canon’s operations by acquiring valuable patents that other companies, not just Canon, need to use, and then negotiating licenses for their use. Canon strengthens its product development capabilities through both defensive and offensive intellectual property management.

Number of U.S. Registered Patents Figures tabulated by Canon

Year

Overall ranking

Ranking among
Japanese companies

No. of patents

2023

5th

1st

2,890

2022

5th

1st

2,694

2021

3rd

1st

3,021

2020

3rd

1st

3,225

2019

3rd

1st

3,548

2018

3rd

1st

3,051

2017

3rd

1st

3,284

2016

3rd

1st

3,662

2015

3rd

1st

4,127

2014

3rd

1st

4,048

Number of patents for 2021 to 2023 are based on figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services (as of January 10, 2024). Figures for 2013 to 2020 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Patent Strategy to Tackle Xerox’s Monopoly

Canon’s emphasis on intellectual property rights dates back to the 1960s, when the company entered the copying machine market.
In order to break through the airtight patent wall that U.S.-based Xerox had erected for its copying machines, Canon succeeded indeveloping the NP method, an all-new electrophotographic technology that did not infringe on Xerox’s patents. Canon obtained a patent for the NP method. By protecting the differentiated proprietary technology, and also acquiring patents for peripheral technologies, Canon put itself in the position to be able to negotiate license agreements for other companies’ technologies that Canon needed. This experience created the foundation for Canon’s intellectual property strategy and has been passed down through the generations as part of Canon’s corporate DNA.

imageimage

Actual application submitted for patent bulletin publication (excerpt)

Engineers Work Closely with Patent Engineers to Cultivate Ideas

One major characteristic of Canon’s intellectual property strategy is the active exchange of communication between development engineers and patent engineers, who are in charge of intellectual property. Some 300 patent engineers at Canon operation sites throughout Japan examine new ideas and the research results of engineers from various angles, searching for ways to maximize the number of inventions that can be generated.

Basic Policy of Canon Intellectual Property Activities

Intellectual property activities are vital to support business operations

The fruits of R&D activities are products and intellectual property rights

Other parties’ intellectual property rights should be respected and attended properly

Collaborations with Global Companies Boost Canon’s Competitive Edge

In this day and age, it is becoming increasingly difficult for a company to protect its technologies on its own. In a move to assert the company’s legitimacy and circumvent international patent disputes, Canon signed a cross-licensing agreement* with Microsoft in July 2014. In addition, six companies, including Canon and Google, established the License On Transfer (LOT) Network. As of November 2018, 318 companies have joined as members to protect approximately 1.36 million patents. In this way, Canon is working to coordinate with other companies to strengthen its competitive edge internationally through intellectual property.
* In a cross-licensing agreement, patent-right holders (companies, etc.) grant a license to each other permitting the use of a patent or patents held by the other party.

History of Awards for Canon Inventions

Several Canon inventions have been awarded Japan’s National Commendation for Invention (sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation), presented in recognition of inventions of great merit in Japan. Additionally, Canon gives special recognition to the efforts of its own engineers and other meritorious individuals for their outstanding inventions through an Internal Invention Awards system.

History of Canon’s Receipt of Special Prize, National Commendation for Invention and Internal Invention Awards over the past 20 years

Name of Invention

Special Prize, National Commendation for Invention,
sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation

Internal Invention Award

Year

Name of Award/Prize

Year

Name of Award/Prize

The development of an imaging sensor that realizes phase-difference autofocus on the imaging surface

2018

The Prime Minister’s Award

2017

Invention Award of Excellence

Invention of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment utilizing differential harmonics from two fundamental frequency components and their second harmonic in diagnostic ultrasound apparatus

2018

The MEXT Minister’s Award

-

-

Invention of shading-reduction technology for CMOS sensors

2015

The Prize of The Chairman of Japan Business Federation

2005

President’s Incentive Award

Design of a compact, lightweight digital cinema camera with outstanding mobility

2014

The Prime Ministers Prize

2013

President’s Award for IP Achievement

Invention of a printer using intermediate transfer member, without a cleaning mechanism

2013

The Prize of The Minister of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

2004

President’s Award for IP Achievement

Box-shaped inkjet printer

2006

The Asahi Shimbun Prize

2005

President’s Award for Excellence

Large-area sensor for real-time digital radiography system

2005

The Imperial Invention Prize

2001

President’s Award for Excellence

Invention for a small-size optical system capable of high-speed zoom

2003

The Asahi Shimbun Prize

2004

President’s Award for Excellence

Slim flatbed scanner design

2002

The Prize of The Chairman of Hatsumei Kyokai (JIII)

2001

President’s Award for IP Achievement

Ozone-less charging method

1999

The Prize of Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office

1991

President’s Award for Excellence

Invention of active type distance measuring device

1997

The Asahi Shimbun Prize

1996

President’s Award for IP Achievement

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