W SCOPE : Progress Report on Invalidity of Patents in China

03 March 2022

Progress Report on Invalidity of Patents in China

W-SCOPE KOREA CO., LTD (hereafter referred to as "WSK") had filed a request for invalidation of a Chinese patent (Patent No. ZL200680046997.8, hereinafter referred to as the "Patent") owned by Asahi Kasei Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Hideki Kobori). The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on accepted that this patent held by Asahi Kasei was invalid on 25 February 2022.

The patent is a patent for which Asahi Kasei Corporation filed a lawsuit against our distributor in China, seeking an injunction and compensation for damages. WSK filed the invalidation request; however, it was rejected on 28 September 2021. WSK resubmitted the invalidation request with additional evidence in response to this outcome. As a result, WSK's argument that the said patent lacks inventive steps and non-obviousness was accepted, which led to the invalidation.

For more information on the background to date, please refer to "Regarding our views on patent infringement lawsuits" dated 14 February 2020 and "Notice of Response to Patent infringement Litigation" dated 1 February 2021.

There will be no impact on financial results caused by the aforementioned progress.