News Release

Notice Regarding the First-Instance Judgment Issued by the Unified Patent Court on February 11, 2026

TOKYO, March 30, 2026—Canon Inc. announced today that the Düsseldorf Local Division of the Unified Patent Court has issued its judgement dated February 11, 2026 regarding a lawsuit filed by Canon in 2024. The suit alleged that several Katun entities (Katun Germany GmbH, Katun (E.D.C.) B.V. and Katun Corporation) and GPI (General Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.) had infringed Canon's European Patent with unitary effect EP 3 686 683 B1 relating to a developer supply container.

The judgment found that Katun/GPI infringed claim 1 of EP 3 686 683 B1, which relates to a developer supply container with a specific moving mechanism, by offering and selling the developer supply containers specified in Canon’s complaint. These developer supply containers include at least the following models from Katun/GPI: 53446 (compatible with Canon’s C-EXV 47), 53410 (compatible with Canon’s C-EXV 49), 53531 (compatible with Canon’s C-EXV 53), 53753 (compatible with Canon’s C-EXV 59) and 53437 (compatible with Canon’s C-EXV 55). Furthermore, among other measures, the Court has prohibited Katun/GPI from further infringing acts, ordered Katun to recall and destroy the infringing products, and declared Katun/GPI liable for damages. Katun filed a counterclaim for revocation of EP 3 686 683 B1, but the counterclaim was dismissed in the same judgment.

Canon considers this judgement to be highly favorable to its position.

As no party filed an appeal within the appeal period, the judgement is now final and enforceable without condition in UPC Contracting Member States. The dismissal of the counterclaim for revocation is likewise final, with EP 3 686 683 B1 maintained as granted.^*

Throughout the development, sales and marketing process, Canon respects the intellectual property of other companies and individuals and expects others to similarly respect Canon's intellectual property rights. Canon remains committed to pursuing legal enforcement against those who do not respect Canon's intellectual property.

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  Separate opposition proceedings filed by Katun/GPI before the European Patent Office have concluded at first instance, with the opposition rejected and EP 3 686 683 B1 maintained as granted. Katun/GPI has filed an appeal against that decision, which is now pending before the Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office.

(Text appearing in red in this document added on June 8, 2026)