In YBM Magnex , the patent claimed a permanent magnet alloy comprising certain elements, including “6,000 to 35,000 ppm oxygen.” U.S. Patent No. 4,588,439 (the ’439 patent), col. 3, l. 12. The accused infringer used similar magnet alloys with an oxygen content between 5,450 and 6,000 ppm (parts per million), which was allegedly disclosed but not claimed in the ’439 patent. In YBM Magnex , this court stated that Maxwell did not create a new rule of law that doctrine of equivalents could never encompass subject matter disclosed in the specification but not claimed. 145 F.3d at 1321.
Distinguishing Maxwell, this court noted:
Maxwell avoided examination of the unclaimed alternative, which was distinct from the claimed alternative. In view of the distinctness of the two embodiments, both of which were fully described in the specification, the Federal Circuit denied Maxwell the opportunity to enforce the unclaimed embodiment as an equivalent of the one that was claimed. Id. at 1320.
In other words, this court in YBM Magnex purported to limit Maxwell to situations where a patent discloses an unclaimed alternative distinct from the claimed invention. Thus, this court must decide whether a patentee can apply the doctrine of equivalents to cover unclaimed subject matter disclosed in the specification.
（つづく）
【メモ】
・YBM社のU.S. Patent No. 4,588,439 のクレーム１は、以下の通り。
1. A permanent magnet alloy consisting essentially of, in weight percent, 30 to 36 of at least one rare earth element, 60 to 66 iron, 6,000 to 35,000 ppm oxygen and balance boron.
・特許における酸素の含有量が、6,000～35,000ppmであるのに対して、イ号における酸素の含有量は、5,450～6,000ppmの範囲だった。ちなみに、特許明細書には下記の図１が記載されており、6,000～35,000ppmというのは、「Excellent Resistance」の範囲に該当するグラフ横軸の範囲である。
Maxwell以降に生じたYBM事件において、裁判所は、「Maxwellは、明細書に記載されクレームされていない部分を均等論がカバーできない、というDOEの新しいルールを作ったものと解釈すべきではない」と判示。Maxwellは、２つの明確に異なる実施例のうち、その１つのみをクレームした事例であった、というのがその理由。
【その他】
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