Konica Minolta 2007 Annual Report Download - page 40

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Intellectual Property Update
1. R&D Segments and Intellectual Property Strategy Direction
The total number of published applications for the Konica Minolta Group increased by 523 in the
fiscal year ended March 2007 to 4,329 patents, compared to 3,806 patents in the fiscal year
ended March 2006.
By business segment, the number of published applications for the Business Technologies in
the fiscal year ended March 2007 was 1,543 patents, an increase of 28% year-on-year and 341
patents more than in the fiscal year ended March 2006. In addition, the number of published
applications in the Optics in the fiscal year ended March 2007 was 650 patents and 38% higher
than the number of patents for this business segment in the fiscal year ended March 2006. The
combined number of published applications for both of these segments has risen to over 50% of
total published applications for the Group (versus 44% in the fiscal year ended March 2006). The
increase in published applications for these business segments is the result of the Group’s efforts
to actively strengthen its patent applications based on an intellectual property strategy that is an
integral part of its business strategy.
Further, the number of published shared basic technology and leading-edge technology
patents for the fiscal year ended March 2007 was 858 patents, a 44% year-on-year increase over
264 patents in the fiscal year ended March 2006. The increase in shared basic technology and
leading-edge technology patents is an indication of the Group’s efforts to accumulate patents for
the support of future businesses.
2. R&D, Intellectual Property Organization, Collaboration and Alliances
(1) R&D and Intellectual Property Organization
The Group’s R&D organization consists of an R&D organization within each business company for
the development of new products, and the Konica Minolta Technology Center, Inc., which func-
tions to provide development for shared basic technologies and leading-edge technologies. (for
further information on the Group’s R&D activities, please refer to page 10–12).
The Intellectual Property Center is responsible for the centralized and concentrated administra-
tion of the intellectual property assets of each business company from a Group-wide perspective.
As the Intellectual Property Center systematically and strategically makes applications for and
acquires intellectual property rights for each business company, monitors and clears the intellec-
tual property rights of third parties and prepares intellectual property strategies for each business
company that are in line with that company’s business strategy, the business companies and
Intellectual Property Center function as one in developing the Group’s intellectual property rights.
In particular, in order to more actively create intellectual property assets, Intellectual Property
Center liaison personnel are assigned to the R&D organizations of each business company in order
to ensure intellectual property activities that are closely collaborated with on-site R&D activities.
(2) R&D Alliances
The Konica Minolta Group is actively promoting R&D alliances. From a base of functional organic
material synthesis technologies as one core technology, the Group is developing organic EL mate-
rials as key technology for future business development. In light emitting devices where there are
Business Technologies
Optics
Medical and Graphic Imaging
Sensing
Industrial Inkjet
Shared Basic Technologies,
Leading-Edge Technologies
Photo Imaging
Proportion of
Disclosed Patents by
Business Segment
(%)
0
100
80
60
40
20
2006 2007