Konica Minolta 2004 Annual Report Download - page 39

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According to Diamond, Inc.’s IP & Technology 2004-5 rankings of
the number of inventions per inventor in electronics-related companies
including electric appliances, precision machinery and electronics in
2003, the Konica Minolta Group scored number one with five inven-
tions per inventor. (Diamond, Inc. is a major Japanese publishing com-
pany in the field of economics and business.) As a result of prolonged
efforts to create and secure quality intellectual property, the Konica
Minolta Group had approximately 6,600 patents registered in Japan
as of March 31, 2004.
Moreover, we are leveraging our overseas production and sales
bases to proactively develop and expand our global business. In
response to the globalization of business, the Konica Minolta Group is
making concerted efforts to acquire intellectual property rights over-
seas. With an emphasis on the mainstay market of the United States,
and owing to our high quality activities in the field of intellectual prop-
erty, the Konica Minolta Group registered 367 patents in 2003, plac-
ing it in 55th place in the world and in 17th place2among Japanese
companies.
As of March 31, 2004, the Konica Minolta Group had approxi-
mately 5,300 patents registered in the United States. As a result of our
strategic use of these patents, we are endeavoring to contribute to fur-
ther business growth.
The Konica Minolta Group is working to leverage its wealth of
U.S. patents in not only its traditional businesses, but also throughout
all facets of its business activities. Within this framework, we invest
aggressively and strategically in intellectual property resources in our
core Business Technologies business and our strategic Optics business,
both of which are drivers of growth for the overall Group.
Accordingly, as of March 31, 2004, the number of U.S. patents
held by the Business Technologies business and the Optics business
were more than half of all U.S. patents held by the Konica Minolta
Group in the United States.
In the Business Technologies business, where demands for high
picture quality, speed, and environmentally friendly products continues
to intensify, we are seeing other companies aggressively pursuing
research in the development of a polymerized toner.
As a pioneer in this field, the Konica Minolta Group is actively pur-
suing patent applications in an effort to ensure continued competitive
advantage. The published number of patent applications by the Group
in Japan relating to polymerized toner continues to increase significant-
ly. As a result of these efforts, we will maintain our leading position in
copiers and printers and establish a patent portfolio to support future
growth in our image information business.
Notes: 1. Ranked by Konica Minolta and based on data by Diamond, Inc.’s IP &
Technology 2004-5, the total number of domestic patents published by the
former Konica and the former Minolta were used for ranking the Konica
Minolta Group.
Notes: 2. Ranked by Konica Minolta based on data by the Intellectual Property
Owners Association (http://www.ipo.org) of the total number of patents
held by the former Konica and the former Minolta combined.
9. Intellectual Property Portfolio Policies
The Konica Minolta Group periodically monitors the registered patents
and the published patent applications of Japan and of other countries
around the world on technologies related to its businesses, and ana-
lyzes industry trends in intellectual property activity. Moreover, patents
held by its business companies are periodically inventoried and cate-
gorized according to their importance in technological fields, contribu-
tions to business development, and control of other companies in order
to improve intellectual property investment efficiency.
10. Risk-Sensitive Information
As of July 12, 2004, there were no disputes or lawsuits related to
intellectual property rights that may materially affect the management of
the Konica Minolta Group.
Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The plans, strategies, and statements related to the outlook for future results in this doc-
ument are in accordance with assumptions and beliefs determined by management,
based on currently available information. However, it should be noted that there is a
possibility that actual results could differ significantly due to such factors as social and
economic conditions.
Patents Registered in the United States by Business Segment
1. Business Technologies 48%
2. Optics 6%
3. Photo Imaging 27%
4. Medical & Graphic Imaging 7%
5. Sensing 2%
6. Basic and new technologies 10%
1
2
3
4
56
Polymerized Toner Patents in Japan
250
(Number of patents)
150
50
0
’01 ’02 ’03 ’04