Nikon patent overruled, puts Viltrox lawsuit at risk
Is Nikon's lawsuit against Viltrox on the rocks? Chinese authority invalidates Nikon patent for “lack of inventiveness”
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has invalidated Nikon's patent, which forms the crux of the company's legal dispute with Viltrox, according to court documents disclosed by Nikon Rumors. Earlier reports indicated that Nikon might have lost its lawsuit, but the confirmation of the outcome seems to have been established now.
Despite the lawsuit not being concluded yet, Nikon will have a three-month window to appeal the decision or divert its focus elsewhere. This is a significant blow for Nikon and a substantial victory for Viltrox. The lawsuit in question seemingly revolved around Nikon's implementation of four bayonet lugs and the positioning of electrical terminal groups (contacts).
However, the specific product(s) implicated in the lawsuit remains unclear. Nikon Rumors translated a 25-page document into English using an AI, providing insights into the Chinese authority's rationale, which cited "lack of inventiveness" as the basis for the patent's invalidation. According to Strachan IP, an invention needs at least one novel technical feature over existing ones, known as an inventive step.
Thus, a wheel can't be patented, but an innovative axle can. In the aforementioned legal case, the CNIPA invalidated Nikon's patent by asserting that it lacked sufficient inventiveness. The narrative continues...
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
