2026年07月29日
アイデアは異なるが形状が同じものが公知のとき特許は取れるか【リライト版】
特に、ハサミ（Ｙ）では成り立たないような改良（★）です。
このような改良であれば、理想です。
✓その特許公報に記載された発明の目的が「デザイン性を高める」
✓改良されたハサミ（Ｘ’）の改良が「操作性は高まる」
→特にデザイン性は下がるけど、操作性は高まるような改良です。
つまり、進歩性を有すると判断される可能性が高まります。
まれに引用文献２以降に対して阻害要因を主張する勘違いがあります。
発明の改良は、なんでもかんでも改良すればいいわけではありません。
→（例）デザイン性は害するけど、操作性は高まるなど
そのような、改良を行うと、特許性を高めることができます。
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東雲特許事務所（しののめ特許事務所）
弁理士 田村誠治（元特許庁審査官）
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＜機械翻訳＞
Can you get a patent if the idea differs but the shape is the same as a publicly known invention? [Revised Version]
(Q) I invented a pair of scissors (X) with a unique shape based on a specific idea.
However, I discovered a pair of scissors (Y) with the exact same shape in a patent publication.
Those scissors (Y) are completely unrelated to my idea.
Has my invention—the scissors (X)—lost its novelty?
(A) From a strictly legal standpoint, determining whether novelty has been lost is complex.
However, what matters more to us is how this is handled in actual practice.
In practice, an examiner would likely conclude that novelty has been lost in this case.
And it would be difficult to directly refute that conclusion.
So, how can you obtain a patent for your idea?
Try making one more improvement!
Your scissors (X) are based on a different idea than the scissors (Y).
Let’s improve scissors (X) to create scissors (X').
First, scissors (X') will possess novelty relative to scissors (Y).
Ideally, that improvement should be unique to your specific idea.
In particular, it would be best if the improvement is one that would not work or make sense for scissors (Y) (marked as ★).
For example:
✓ The objective of the invention in the patent publication is "enhancing the design."
✓ The improvement in your scissors (X') is "enhancing operability."
→ Specifically, an improvement where operability is enhanced, even if the design quality might decrease.
The improved scissors (X') could not be easily derived from scissors (Y).
In other words, there is a higher likelihood that they will be judged to possess an inventive step.
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<Column> About "Teaching-Away Factors"
Circumstances like (★) are sometimes referred to as "teaching-away factors" (or "factors discouraging the combination").
Citing a "teaching-away factor" is an effective way to argue for the existence of an inventive step. However, misunderstandings do occasionally arise.
An "inhibiting factor" is argued in relation to Cited Reference 1.
Sometimes, there is a misconception where an inhibiting factor is argued against Cited Reference 2 or subsequent references.
I will explain this point in a separate article.
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■ Is any improvement acceptable?
We discussed improving scissors (X) into scissors (X').
However, not just any improvement to an invention will suffice.
It is important to be aware of the existence of scissors (Y).
Making an improvement that differs in objective and direction from the invention described in the patent publication—
→ (e.g., sacrificing design aesthetics to enhance operability)—
...can actually increase the invention's patentability.
To achieve this, conducting a patent search to see what patents already exist is highly effective.
Please be sure to conduct a thorough patent search before filing a patent application.
