In the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have been waiting eagerly for development of therapeutic drugs and vaccines. However, some people are afraid that patents become an obstacle to development of such therapeutic methods. So, there is a movement to pledge or declare not to enforce  patents and other intellectual property rights for solutions for coronavirus; […]

The Japanese government has begun consideration of amendment of the patent correction system. The patent correction system allows patent owners to correct patent claims, specification or drawings within certain limits, as a defense against the assertion of invalidity.  Under the current law, where there is a licensee, the patent owner cannot make corrections without the […]

Japan has entered the Golden Week holiday. It is usually the time for many people to enjoy vacations in the country or overseas. However, because of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) this year, the government is requesting us to stay at home. Many people feel stressed about by the inability to freely spend precious […]

Reportedly, US authorities are pressing Japanese companies to pay taxes on profit from intellectual properties such as data and brand value gained in America.  US pushes Japan Inc. to pay taxes on IP profit from America When the idea of such market approach is advanced, patent may also likely become part of the discussion before […]

Japanese eCommerce platform provider Rakuten announced in the summer of 2019 that free shipping will be offered for purchases over 3,980 JPY (about 36 USD). Rakuten is expecting to achieve this by asking the shops on their platform to bear the shipping costs.  Rakuten is explaining the intense competition with Amazon and others, and asking for […]

Wagyu is the Japanese breeds of beef cattle that has been improved over the years by Japanese breeders. Now Japan is considering strengthening the protection of genetic resources, i.e. sperm and fertilized eggs, from livestock such as Wagyu. In fact, Wagyu genetic resources had been exported for commercial use until around 1998, but no exports […]

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Japanese retail company Ryohin Keikaku, which sells a wide variety of household and consumer goods under the name of MUJI (Mujirushi Ryohin), lost a trademark infringement case in China. Reportedly, on December 11 2019, the Beijing Municipal High People’s Court ordered Ryohin Keikaku to pay CNY 600,000 (USD 85,336) in damages to a Chinese company.  […]

Satoshi Watanabe authored an article entitled “Patent changes create friction” in Intellectual Property Magazine. The article can be accessed here. 

On November 21 2019, Japan and India signed an agreement to start a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program. The PPH is a cooperative program to facilitate an acquisition of a patent by utilizing search and examination results at other patent office. Japan is the world’s first country that corporates with India for such a […]