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56 OLYMPUS 2007
Number of Patents Held by Country
(Number of patents, thousands)
03 04 05 06 07
Others
United States
Japan
12
9
6
3
R&D SEGMENT AND IP OVERVIEW
> Olympus is working to raise the quality of its patent applications.
Particularly its core competence technologies described above,
the Company is striving to increase the number of its applica-
tions while stringently selecting more sophisticated technologies
for applications. Approximately 66% of Olympus’ acquired pat-
ents are related to core competence technologies, serving as a
wellspring of the Company’s competitiveness in each area of its
business.
The previous page show the number of Olympus’ published
patents in its areas of core competence, as well as the ratio of
such patents in relation to its overall patent portfolio.
CONTRIBUTION OF THE PATENT PORTFOLIO TO COMPANY
BUSINESS
> Olympus actively pursues a policy of converting R&D results into
patented IP. In China, which is both an important base for produc-
tion and an irreplaceable market, Olympus held 193 patents as of
March 31, 2007, for a year-on-year increase of 65 patents. From
the current fiscal year onward, we aim to raise the ratio of patent
grants received to total patent applications in Japan while increas-
ing patent applications and grants overseas. In addition, we will
strengthen our relationships with overseas affiliate companies that
conduct R&D, thereby reinforcing our Groupwide IP portfolio on
a global basis.
The achievements of the Company’s IP policy over the past five
years, broken down by country, are shown in the chart below
Olympus holds patents that offer business potential in each of
its businesses of Imaging Systems, Medical Systems, Life Science
and Industrial related. The Company’s core Imaging Systems and
Medical Systems businesses account for 66% of all patents held.
The number and ratio of Olympus’ patents in each business area
at the end of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 are shown in
the table below.
Number and Ratio of Patents Held by Business Group
Corporate
Imaging Medical Life Industrial R&D
Systems Systems Science related Center Total
Japan patents .......................................................................... 1,920 2,262 489 363 1,043 6,077
% to total (%) ........................................................................ 32 37 8 6 18 100
U.S. patents ............................................................................ 1,360 968 303 215 810 3,656
% to total (%) ........................................................................ 37 26 8 6 23 100
China patents .......................................................................... 134 7 19 18 15 193
% to total (%) ........................................................................ 69 4 10 9 8 100
Other patents .......................................................................... 95 303 160 71 139 768
% to total (%) ........................................................................ 12 39 21 9 19 100
Total ...................................................................................... 3,509 3,540 971 667 2,007 10,694
% to total (%) ........................................................................ 33 33 9 6 19 100