Difference between Intellectual Property Activity and Development Activity: Ink-jet Technology of Canon as an example

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the difference between intellectual property activity (IPA for short) and development activity (DA for short), and to examine the merit of synergy between them. The synergy of both activities is recommended strongly in enterprise. However, intention behind the synergy is not elucidated.

We are concerned with kogation in a thermal ink-jet printer, which is a core of ink-jet printer technology of Canon. We compare the DA task flow and the IPA task flow.

(1) In DA of the low kogation ink, fuzziness level of DA is reduced as time elapses.

(2) During patenting process of the low kogation ink, IPA promotes numerical range patents into a generic concept.

DA find an optimal solution while IPA conceptualize the solution. It turns out that

(i) an appropriate level of conceptualization of the solution is important to refine the solution of problems and

(ii) a typical, illuminating solution is important to conceptualize the solution.