To formulate and implement intellectual property strategies, Epson's Intellectual Property Division provides functional organizations for all types of intellectual property rights. In addition, each functional organization has Intellectual Property Staff (hereinafter, “IP staff”) for each technology and business development to formulate, implement, and promote intellectual property strategies in cooperation with the technology and business divisions.

Epson's Intellectual Property Division located in Japan manages intellectual property activities worldwide. The Intellectual Property Division works with the legal, intellectual property, and sales departments of domestic and overseas affiliates of the Epson Group to resolve intellectual property issues, conclude agreements, and lead coordination of anti-counterfeiting activities in each region of the world.

Original core technologies set Epson apart from the competition and create new value for customers. Epson protects these technologies by acquiring patent and design rights. Epson has won high praise and numerous awards since the 1970s at events such as the National Commendation for Invention, sponsored by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. Representative awards from recent years are introduced here.

FY2022: Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize at National Commendation for Invention

“Invention of method to reduce printing unevenness during bidirectional printing with inkjet printer”

The invention relates to bidirectional printing by an inkjet printer in which a print head is reciprocally scanned over a paper surface to form dots. In the invention, dots formed during forward scanning and dots formed during reverse scanning are distributed to avoid poor uniformity in distribution. As a result of implementing this invention, it is possible to print with high speed and image quality because poor uniformity of dot distribution is suppressed even if there is misalignment in the reciprocal scanning. The invention enables inkjet printers of high speed and image quality for home, business, photography, and commercial and industrial use, and through print digitalization greatly contributes to reducing the burden on the environment, improving productivity, and cultivating a culture of photography, fashion, art, and more.

FY2021: Prime Minister's Prize at National Commendation for Invention

“Invention of high brightness, high image quality projector using monochromatic laser light source”

The invention focused on the fact that a desired color light can be generated by irradiating a phosphor material with laser light. A phosphor wheel is irradiated by monochromatic laser light, and red, green, and blue light are then produced from the resultant fluorescent light (yellow = red + green) and the monochromatic laser light (blue) and used as projection light. The laser light source is set to be digitally dimmed by pulse width modulation with high frequency to prevent image flickering. The invention has promoted the use of projectors that use a laser light source and greatly expanded the applications for projectors. In particular, use of projectors for signage and spatial design in various stores, facilities, and events has progressed. Also, the invention has contributed to opening up a new world of image expression called digital art, such as projection mapping and covering entire spaces with images.

FY2018: Asahi Shimbun Prize at National Commendation for Invention

“Invention of a dry-process office papermaking system”

This “two-stage sieve” invention is one of the core technologies of the Dry Fiber Technology found in a dry process office papermaking system, which can make new paper from used paper on the spot. The invention is uses in the paper making system where a defibration machine breaks used paper down into its fiber, which is sorted with the fine-meshed first sieve and goes in turn to the second sieve. By this invention, paper manufacture can be realized by stacking the fibers that pass through the second sieve into uniform sheets.

Epson's IP activities have won high external recognition even beyond the prizes won at the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation's National Commendation for Invention. Here are some examples.

2022: Epson named to “Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2022”

Epson was listed as one of the Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2022 announced by global information services firm Clarivate Analytics. This is the ninth time Clarivate has put Epson on the list (the first time was in 2012).

■ Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators

Clarivate Analytics analyzes IP and patent trends based on the company's unique proprietary patent data to determine the world's 100 most innovative corporations and institutions.

For details, please see the Clarivate Analytics press release.

https://clarivate.com/en/top-100-innovators/

2021: Epson named to “Top 100 Best Protected Global Brands”

Epson was listed as one of the Top 100 Best Protected Global Brands as determined by Clarivate Analytics. Clarivate first announced the top 100 global brands list in 2021.

■ Top 100 Best Protected Global Brands

Clarivate identifies the most impactful and best protected brands in the world, measuring brand strength through the analysis of advanced and unified IP data including trademark information, IP litigation and case law, and domain name protection.