Autonics and Omron Locked in Back-and-Forth Patent Battle

Mixed Decisions from IP Tribunal and Patent Court in Ongoing Dispute

(Source: https://www.autonics.com/kr/industry/index/C)

Korean company Autonics and Japanese competitor Omron are engaged in a heated patent dispute over four key patents. The conflict has seen the Korean Intellectual Property Tribunal (KIPT) and the Patent Court issue differing rulings, adding complexity to the ongoing legal battle.

Autonics initiated patent invalidation actions against four of Omron's patents at the KIPT between June and August 2023.

The first ruling, concerning Omron's "Safety Switch" (KR0835819), was issued in December 2023. The KIPT ruled that claim 1 of the patent was invalid, while rejecting or dismissing Autonics' challenges to claims 5 and 6. Additionally, the tribunal granted Omron's request for partial corrections to the patent.

Following this decision, both parties filed appeals with the Korean Patent Court in February 2024. Autonics sought to invalidate the remaining claims, while Omron contested the invalidation of claim 1. However, in September 2024, the Patent Court upheld the KIPT's ruling in both cases, resulting in losses for both Autonics and Omron. Both companies subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court in October 2024.

In a separate case, Autonics challenged Omron's "Electronic Device Having Display Unit" (KR1403279) and "Multi-Optical Axis Photoelectric Sensor System" (KR1837806) patents at the KIPT in August 2023. These invalidation claims were either dismissed or rejected. Autonics has since appealed both decisions, filing cancellation lawsuits with the Patent Court in June and September 2024. Notably, Omron had already requested and received a correction to the Multi-Optical Axis Photoelectric Sensor System patent in February 2023.

In a notable victory for Autonics, the company prevailed in its invalidation challenge against Omron's "Door Switch" (KR2105971) patent. Autonics had argued that claims 1 through 6 were invalid, and in October 2024, the KIPT ruled in favor of Autonics, invalidating the disputed claims.

Figures of Omron's "Door Switch" (KR2105971) patent (Source: KIPRIS)