Technology and Know-How Leakage and Intellectual Property Disputes
First written in FY2016. 8 of 13 entries say "Mitigated", first in FY2017-Q2. Latest entry: FY2026.
Kaneka moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2025, 2 years after the typical company in this theme (2023).
The whole theme swung hardest in 2021: 3 of 17 companies on the "Worse" side.
0 other companies' latest entry also says "Materialised".
- FY2026MaterialisedAnnual report
「Litigation-related expenses 897」
The lawsuit relating to reduced coenzyme Q10 remains ongoing, and ¥897 million in litigation-related expenses was recorded in the current period. - 2026-05-14MaterialisedEarnings
「Litigation-related expenses - 897」
The company recorded ¥897 million in litigation-related expenses as an extraordinary loss for the fiscal year, with the cost impact of litigation risk having materialized. - FY2026-H1MaterialisedAnnual report
「We have filed US patent infringement lawsuits relating to reduced coenzyme Q10 against Designs for Health, Inc. of the United States and Cocrystal Technology (Jianxing) Co., Ltd. of China.」
It states that a new US patent infringement lawsuit relating to reduced coenzyme Q10 has been filed, indicating that intellectual property dispute risk has again materialised. - FY2023MitigatedAnnual report
「With respect to the intellectual property of other companies, we respect their rights and conduct patent searches at every milestone of business development, including theme proposals, commercialization and specification changes, to avoid disputes in advance and ensure thorough patent clearance.」
In addition to describing past patent disputes and recoveries, it explicitly sets out preventive measures involving patent searches at each stage of business development. - FY2021MitigatedAnnual report
「Damages received 1,624」
¥1,624 million in damages relating to a patent lawsuit was received, recording a recovery in connection with the ongoing intellectual property dispute. - FY2021-Q3MitigatedAnnual report
「Damages received 1,624」
During the cumulative third-quarter period, ¥1,624 million in damages was received, recording a recovery relating to the intellectual property dispute. - FY2021-Q2MitigatedAnnual report
「In this lawsuit, on 24 May 2017, the United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled in our favor and ordered SKPI to pay us US$13,488 thousand in damages. We received a payment of US$15,690 thousand, including interest and other amounts, on 6 November 2020.」
It states that damages awarded in the polyimide film patent lawsuit were received, including interest and other amounts. - FY2019MitigatedAnnual report
「Thereafter, to pursue collection of the damages, we had filed an action in a Korean district court seeking an enforcement judgment against UNO&COMPANY，LTD. A settlement was reached in February 2019 based on a recommendation by the Korean district court, and we received US$9,500 thousand in settlement proceeds.」
It states that a settlement was reached in the lawsuit relating to fibers for artificial hair and that US$9,500 thousand was received. - FY2018-Q2MitigatedAnnual report
「Among these cases, a settlement was reached with ShenZhou Biology＆Technology Co.,Ltd. in November 2017.」
A settlement was reached in the dispute with ShenZhou Biology＆Technology concerning one of the multiple patent lawsuits relating to oxidized coenzyme Q10. - FY2017MitigatedAnnual report
「We had filed a US patent infringement lawsuit relating to polyimide film products against SKC KOLON PI，Inc. of South Korea (SKPI) and SKC，Inc. of the United States. On 24 May 2017, the United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled in our favor and ordered SKPI to pay us US$13,488 thousand in damages.」
The court ruled in our favor in the polyimide film lawsuit. Meanwhile, the oxidized coenzyme Q10 lawsuit and other cases remain ongoing. - FY2017-Q2MitigatedAnnual report
「We had filed a US patent infringement lawsuit relating to flame-retardant polyester-based fibers for artificial hair against UNO&COMPANY，LTD. of South Korea, and JBS HAIR，INC. and Jinny Beauty Supply Company,Inc. of the United States, and a final judgment was entered in our favor.」
In the US patent infringement lawsuit relating to fibers for artificial hair, a final judgment was entered in our favor, reducing the dispute risk in that case. Meanwhile, the lawsuits relating to polyimide film and oxidized coenzyme Q10 remain ongoing. - FY2017-Q1MaterialisedAnnual report
「We have filed US patent infringement lawsuits relating to polyimide film products against SKC KOLON PI, Inc. of South Korea and SKC, Inc. of the United States. We have also filed US patent infringement lawsuits relating to oxidized coenzyme Q10 against Zhejiang Medicine Co.,Ltd. (ZMC), ZMC‐USA，LLC, Xiamen Kingdomway Group Company, Pacific Rainbow International Inc., and ShenZhou Biology＆Technology Co.,Ltd.」
US patent infringement lawsuits over intellectual property rights have actually been filed. Although we have also secured a favorable judgment in another case, multiple lawsuits remain ongoing. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「Our group has adopted a strategy that places emphasis on patent protection for newly developed technologies in order to maintain our business advantages. However, owing to globalization and advances in information technology, among other factors, it is difficult to completely avoid the risk of developed technologies and know-how leaking outside the group, or the risk of disputes arising in connection with the licensing of our intellectual property rights and our use of the intellectual property rights of other companies.」
It sets out both the policy of emphasizing patent protection and the residual risks of technology outflows and intellectual property disputes.