Japan Patent Office Decides to Maintain Validity of Resonac’s Four Patents on Anode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries

July 26, 2023
Resonac Holdings Corporation

Resonac Corporation (President: Hidehito Takahashi, hereinafter “Resonac”) announces that Japan Patent Office judged on March 17, 2023 that Resonac’s four Japanese patents (P6888722, P6888723, P6897707, and P6922927) concerning anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) remain valid despite third-party’s opposition to these patents.

 

In recent years, the car industry has been promoting xEVs in order to deal with environmental challenges including carbon neutrality. The four patents mentioned above are those on anode materials for LIBs installed in hybrid vehicles, including patents on particle shapes and particle sizes of anode materials. Technologies covered by these patents enable LIBs to realize large-current charging and discharging by reducing anodes’ electrical resistance. Inside and outside Japan, Resonac continues applying for patents on inventions about anode-material technology and building a strong patent network.

 

Resonac obtained these four patents in 2021. However, in January 2022, third parties file an opposition to these patents, and Resonac received a notice of reasons for revocation of these patents from Japan Patent Office. Regarding this issue, Resonac submitted written opinions to Japan Patent Office and pleaded the Office to correct its judgement. After trial examinations, Japan Patent Office approved Resonac’s allegations and decided to maintain validity of these four patents.

 

Resonac will continue aggressively securing patents and patent applications in line with its business strategy and protecting its intellectual property rights, thereby contributing to promotion of healthy competition and enhancing value of its technologies.