Intellectual Property
Strategy in Japan
August 29th, 2003
OECD, IPR, Innovation and Economic Performance Conference
Ichiro NAKAYAMA
Secretariat of Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters
Cabinet Secretariat
[email protected]
Why Intellectual Property?
Driving Force of economic growth has been
changing…
Natural Resource
Tangible Assets
Intangible Assets (Knowledge, IP)
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Productive Circle of
Intellectual Property System
Invention/
Creation
Protection
Creation
IP rights
Exploitation
Profits
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Chronology of IP Strategy in Japan
February 2002 Policy Statement by Prime Minister
KOIZUMI
March 2002
Strategic Council on Intellectual
Property
IP-based Nation
July 2002
Intellectual Property Policy Outline
November 2002 Basic Law of Intellectual Property
March 2003
Intellectual Property Strategy
Headquarters
July 2003
Intellectual Property Strategic Program
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Intellectual Property Strategy
Headquarters
Members
--- All Ministers and 10 Experts
Chairman
--- Prime Minister KOIZUMI
ViceVice-Chairman
--- Chief Cabinet Secretary
Minister of Science and
Technology Policy
Minister of Education, Cultures,
Sports, Science and Technology
Minister of Economy, Trade and
Industry
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Intellectual Property Strategic Program
1. Creation
270 action items
in total
2. Protection
3. Exploitation
4. Media Content Business
5. Human Resource Development
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Highlights(1) ; Universities
Universities’ function has been expanded…
To generate new scientific knowledge
To transfer technologies to the private sector
Universities should
- reinforce IPIP-focused Organizations (TLO)
- provide Rules & Regulation (IPR Ownership)
- secure Funding (Patent Prosecution Fee))
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Highlights(2) ; Patent Examination
Patent Office
Huge Backlog
Applicants
Increasing
International
applications
0.8 million
applications
Domestically,
- increasing patent examiners with fixed-year contract
Internationally,
- cooperation among patent offices
- harmonization efforts
Global Patent
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Highlights(3) ; IP High Court
Characteristics of IP law suits
Advanced technologies
Global & fierce competition
Expertise
Forseeability & speed of court decision
IP High Court
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Highlights(4) ;
Medical Method Invention
Need for advancing
safe and effective
medical technologies
Equal opportunities for
treatment of patients
Forum for extensive discussion
on issues concerning patentability of
medical method invention
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Highlights(5) ;
Counterfeiting’
Counterfeiting’s Damage On World Trade
The amount of damage from
counterfeits worldwide is estimated
to account for
6% (= 378 billion USD)
of the amount of the world trade
( 6.3 trillion USD) in 2001.
Source: International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
Various measures should be taken.
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Highlights(6) ; Media Content Business
Japanese films,
animation and game
software are getting
popular worldwide.
“Broadband”
generates more
demand for
“contents” on it.
Policy package
to boost media content business
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Highlights(7);
Human Resource Development
Increasing IP professionals
- Lawyers
Cf. US-type law schools will start in FY04.
- Patent Agents
Interdisciplinary & comprehensive IP research
Activities such as OECD are encouraged.
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3 Task Forces For Further Discussion
Task Force on
Patentability of Medical Method Invention
Task Force on Media Content Business
Task Force on IP enforcement
- IP High Court
- Measures Against Counterfeiting and Piracy
- Human Resource Development
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Thank you !
IP Strategy Program can be downloaded from
the following website.
http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/titeki2/kettei/030708f.html
English version will be available soon.
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