Articles

On August 4, 2023, Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) reportedly held a briefing session to media to review recent issues and questions of copyright which are increasingly highlighted by the breakout of generative AI, and also to explain their stands.  This article is a summary of what the JP

AI experts assigned to all examination teamsThe Japanese Patent Office (JPO) has increased the number of officers with expertise in AI-related patents from 10 to 40.  Accordingly, an officer with expert knowledge in AI has been dispatched to each examination team by technical field, ensuring the org

The Intellectual Property High Court (IPHC) judged on July 19, 2023 that a trademark registration of “GUZZILLA” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6143667, as shown below) owned by a Japanese construction machinery component manufacturer, Taguchi Industrial Co. Ltd. (Appellant), could cause confus

Key NumbersThe number of patent applications slightly declined while the numbers of requests for examination and registrations remain unchanged.The number and ratio of patent applications from foreign countries are as follows.The number of requests for appeal against an Examiner’s decision of refusa

According to the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), the amount of annual damage caused by online piracy of Japanese manga, anime, games, etc. has reached two trillion JPY. This is a five times increase from the 2019 survey, revealing the reality of rapidly expanding damages.In recent

Outline of the SystemThe Cabinet of Japan approved on April 28, 2023, a framework for a patent non-disclosure system which was stipulated in the Economic Security Bill enacted in May 2022.  The operation of the system is scheduled to start in May 2024.  The patent non-disclosure system aims to preve

The EPO (European Patent Office) and IEA (International Energy Agency) released a joint study titled “Hydrogen patents for a clean energy future -A global trend analysis of innovation along hydrogen value chain-“ in January 2023. The voluminous 70 page report contains patent filing trends on hydroge

OutlineOn May 26, 2023, the Intellectual Property High Court (IPHC) made a landmark decision that finds patent infringement on an internet-related invention beyond a national border.  In the lawsuit, DWANGO Co., Ltd., a Japanese web service company of which one of the major services is a video distr

In this Issue- 3.8 Million USD in Copyright Infringement Damages for “Fast Movies”- Supreme Court Decision: Does Patent Enforcement Cast Off the Stigma of Abuse of Right?- Recent Trends in Business-Related Inventions- Deep Learning Accounts for Approximately Half of AI-Related Inventions Filed at th

In this Issue- Music School Student Performances Not Subject to Copyright Fees- Customs Act Prohibits Import of Private Use Counterfeit Products- Japanese Car Makers Enter Connected Car License Agreement- Panasonic First in Japan to Join Low-Carbon Patent Pledge- Infringement Found in Action via Ove

In this Issue- Establishment of Guidelines for License Negotiations for Standard Essential Patents- New Guidelines for Co-Ownership of Patents- WIPO Report: Toyota has Most Active Patents related to Hydrogen Fuel Cells in Transportation- JPO Studying Easing of Registration Requirements of Name Trade

In this Issue- Japan Likely to Consider Secret Patent Non-Disclosure System- Mitsubishi Electric Discloses Their Technology Assets Online Aiming for "Co-Creation" with Other Companies- Nippon Steel Files Patent Infringement Litigation against Toyota and others over Electromagnetic Steel Sheets- Pate

In this Issue- Three Signature Patterns of Costumes in “Demon Slayer” Registered as Trademarks in Japan- Patent Litigation over Smartphone Game Reaches Settlement for 29 Million Dollars (Nintendo vs. Colopl)- Release of Case Examples of Design Registrations of Related Designs Pertaining to “Partial

In this Issue- Bill for Revisions to Japanese Patent Law Approved- Good News for Patentees! Obtaining Consent from Non-Exclusive Licensees will No Longer be Required- Amicus Curiae Brief System to be Introduced- JPO Technical Trend Report: Self-Driving and MaaS

In this Issue- Former Softbank Employee Arrested for Leaking Trade Secrets- Interior/Exterior Design of Buildings to be Protected as Designs- Recent Trends in Quantum Cryptography - Toshiba Venturing into the Field- Abolishment of Handwritten-Signature Requirements for Procedures at the JPO