Patent ID: 8828307

Claim:
An imprint method comprising the steps of: providing a transparent mold having an imprint pattern at a side surface thereof facing a substrate; providing photocurable resin material on the substrate; patterning the photocurable resin by contacting the mold imprint pattern with the resin material; curing the patterned resin by irradiating curing light through the contacting mold; parting the mold from the cured resin; and removing any electrification from the mold, patterned resin, and substrate during said parting by irradiating an entire area in which the imprint pattern is formed with electrification removal light through the mold so as to ionize gaseous molecules in an atmosphere in which the mold, cured resin, and substrate are placed, the electrification removal light having a wavelength shorter than that of the curing light, and the electrification removal irradiation beginning while the mold and cured resin remain contacting and continuing throughout said parting.