IP Horizon 5.0

Setting the scene for future IP policy initiatives

September 26, 2019

Tomoki SAWAIJapan Patent Office

Outline

1. Importance of IP protection for new technology

2. How the JPO is updating its IP system

A) Strengthening IP protection

B) Supporting users to build global IP portfolios

3. Future Prospects for the world and IP

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1) Importance of IP protection for new technology

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Protecting IP technologies and knowledge is necessary before sharing them!

Trend 1: Many companies plan to collaborate more with other companies, rather than improve their own business models.

(Source) White Paper on Information and Communications, Japan (2017)

On-going Actions Future Actions

Reconsideration ofbusiness strategy

(e.g. diversification/ specialization)

Enhancement of human resource

development

Response to globalization

Enhancement of collaboration among

same industry

Enhancement of collaboration amongdifferent industries

Enhancement of collaboration with

start-ups

Improvingtheir own business

Collaboratingwith others

JP (general) (N=364)

On-going > Future

On-going < Future

(Especially for US/EU)

JP (IT) (N=285) US (N=97) UK (N=96) DE (N=102)

Initiatives for addressing the fourth Industrial Revolution

1) Importance of IP protection for new technology

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(Source) White Paper on Manufacturing Industries, Japan (2016)

increase sales decrease

Brand awarenessand differentiation

Shift to a new business field to avoid price competition

Initiatives for optimizing products’ life cycle and recent 3-year sales

Nothing special

Other

Rule-making which is beneficial to their own

Strengthening marketingStrengthening IP protection

Shift from manufacturing to services

Shift from BtoB to BtoC

Successful companies

work on strengthening

IP protection, brand

awareness, and

differentiation, more

than lagging companies

Trend 2: Due to the rapid progress of technologies, products are being commoditized more rapidly in shorter time.

The key for success in business is to strengthen IP protection and to build brand awareness!

1) Importance of IP protection for new technology

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JP + EU + US = 30%

China + India = 35%

Global middle-income class consumption (USD 2005 PPP)

(source) Kharas (2010) “The emerging middle class in developing countries”, OECD Development Centre Working Paper No. 285

Data visualization is made by the JPO

ASEAN6 =5.5%

(5th in the world)

Trend 3: Majority of middle-income class, who are are potential consumers of value-added products & services, will be in non-western countries.

Building a global IP portfolio is essential to growing business in emerging markets!

2-A) Strengthening IP Protection - Designs

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New registration possible

Enhancing Design Protection (2019)

◼ Interior/Exterior designs of buildings

◼ GUIs

◼ Enhancing Related Design system

2-A) Strengthening IP Protection - Patents

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Encourage SMEs and universities to protect their IP

◼ Extending Grace Period (2018) ◼ Accepting any type of disclosure (2012)

Displays at trade fairs

Any meetings

Sales

Broadcastingon TV or radio

Improving Grace Period

6 months ➔ 12 months

2-A) Strengthening IP protection – Trademarks

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Color

Registration No. 5933289Right holder: Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd.

Motion

Registration No. 5804316Right holder: Wacoal Corporation

Hologram

Registration No. 5804315Right holder: Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd.

TotalNumber of applications by type of trademark

Sound Color Postion Motion Hologram

Number of applications 1,832 656 537 446 173 20

Number of registrations 489 287 7 71 110 14

(As of September 1, 2019)

Position

Registration No. 6034112Right holder: Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.

Non-traditional trademarks (2015)

Sound

Registration No. M1177675Right holder:Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Global IP protection mechanism

2-B) Supporting users to build global IP portfolios

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Treaty Since JPO In Force

Total Application #

JP share (rank)

PCT 1970 1978 243,464 (2017) 19.8% (#3)

Hague (Geneve Act) 1999 2015 19,429 (2017) 4.3% (#7)

Madrid Protocol 1989 2000 57,139 (2017) 4.4% (#8)

Harmonizing global IP system

WIPO-SCP

B+ IP5

JPO’s status on global protection mechanism

3) Future prospects for the world and IP

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We will continuously focus on...

⚫ Building awareness in users worldwide about the importance of IP

so that protecting and utilizing IP leads to creating innovations

⚫ Updating our IP system in line with advances in emerging

technologies and industrial development

⚫ Supporting users to create global IP portfolios by:

➢ working to harmonize global IP systems

➢ making the PCT, Hague, and Madrid systems more user-friendly

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