WORLD TRADE IP/N/6/JPN/1
18February 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-0633)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
CHECKLIST OFISSUES ONENFORCEMENT1
Responses from Japan
Civil andAdministrative Procedures andRemedies
(a) Civiljudicial procedures andremedies
1. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
Acourt offirstinstance regarding IPRinfringement cases isadistrict court. Acourt ofappeals
isahighcourt andthehigher court ofappeals istheSupreme Court. (When thevalue oftheobject
ofasuitisnotmore than900,000 yen,asummary court, adistrict court andahighcourt correspond
totheabove-mentioned courts, respectively.)
2. Which persons havestanding toassert IPRs? How maytheyberepresented? Arethere
requirements formandatory personal appearances before thecourt bytherightholder?
Aperson whoasserts IPRsiseligible tobeapartytothecase. Theparty concerned mayappoint
arepresentative ofthecaseamong attorneys atwill(insummary court proceedings, aparty mayappoint
arepresentative ofthecaseamong persons notbeing anattorney bypermission ofthecourt), andthe
party himself mayalsoproceed withthesuit(Article 79oftheCode ofCivil Procedure). Itisnot
necessary thattheparty himself appears before thecourt when hemakes hisrepresentative appear.
When thecourtdecides toexamine thepartyintheprocess ofexamining evidence, hemaybesummoned
tothecourt. When theperson summoned doesnotappear before thecourt without legitimate reason,
assertion made bytheopposing party maybeconsidered tobetrue(Article 338oftheCode ofCivil
Procedure).
3. What authority dothejudicial authorities have toorder, attherequest ofanopposing
party, aparty toaproceeding toproduce evidence which lieswithin itscontrol?
Acourt hasauthority toorder aperson whoholds documents, including aparty, toproduce
them upon request ofanopposing party inthefollowing cases (Articles 312and314oftheCode of
Civil Procedure):
(1) when aparty himself holds thedocuments which hereferred tointhesuit;
(2) when aparty whoisgoing toprove hiscaseisentitled torequire theholder ofthe
documents todeliver them totheparty orallow theparty toinspect them;
1Document IP/C/5IP/N/6/JPN/1
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(3) when thedocuments wereproduced intheinterest ofaparty whoisgoing toprove
hiscase, ortheywereproduced astothelegalrelations between suchaparty andthe
holder ofthedocuments.
Inaddition, acourt hasauthority toorder aperson whoholds objects, including aparty, to
present them which aretobeinspected, upon therequest ofanopposing party, asfarastheholder
oftheobjects doesnothaveanylegitimate reason forrefusing todoso(Article 335oftheCode of
Civil Procedure).
Article 105ofthePatent Law
Inlitigation relating totheinfringement ofapatent rightorexclusive licence, thecourt may,
upontherequest ofaparty, order theother party toproduce documents necessary fortheassessment
ofthedamages caused bytheinfringement. However, thisprovision shallnotapply when theperson
possessing thedocuments hasalegitimate reason forrefusing toproduce them.
cf. Article 105ofthePatent Lawshallbeapplied mutatis mutandis intheTrademark Law
andtheDesign Law.
cf. Article 26oftheActConcerning theLayout ofaSemiconductor Integrated Circuit.
4. What means exist toidentify andprotect confidential information brought forward as
evidence?
Thecircumstances under which aperson mayberequired, against hiswill,toproduce evidence
which heholds arelimited onlytocase(3)above, andinsuchacase, itisnotsupposed thatsuch
evidence contains confidential information. Therefore, there arenocircumstances under which
confidential information mayberequired tobeproduced asevidence against theholder 'swill,and
protection ofconfidential information isensured.
5. Describetheremediesthatmaybeorderedbythejudicialauthoritiesandcriteria,legislative
orjurisprudential, fortheir use:
- injunctions;
- damages, including recovery ofprofits, andexpenses, including attorney 'sfees;
- destruction orother disposal ofinfringing goods andmaterials/implements for
their production;
- anyother remedies.
Remedies provided forineachsubstantive legislation arerealized bycourt decision ona
case-by-case basis when requirements under eachsubstantive legislation aremet.
Injunctions:
Article 100ofthePatent Law
Apatentee orexclusive licensee mayrequire aperson whoisinfringing orislikely
toinfringe thepatent rightorexclusive licence todiscontinue orrefrain fromsuchinfringement.
cf. Paragraph 1ofArticle 36oftheTrademark Law, paragraph 1ofArticle 37ofthe
Design Law, paragraph 1ofArticle 112oftheCopyright Law, paragraph 1ofArticle
22oftheActConcerning theLayout ofaSemiconductor Integrated Circuit.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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Damages:
Article 709oftheCivil Code
Aperson whoviolates intentionally ornegligently therightofanother person shall
make compensation fordamages arising therefrom.
Presumption, etc.ofamount ofdamages:
Article 102ofthePatent Law
(1) Where apatentee orexclusive licensee claims, from aperson whohasintentionally
ornegligently infringed thepatent rightorexclusive licence, compensation fordamages
caused tohimbytheinfringement, theprofits damages bytheinfringer through the
infringement shallbepresumed tobetheamount ofdamages suffered bythepatentee
orexclusive licensee.
(2) Apatentee orexclusive licensee mayclaim, from aperson whohasintentionally or
negligently infringed thepatent rightorexclusive licence, anamount ofmoney which
hewould normally beentitled toreceive fortheworking ofthepatented invention,
astheamount ofdamages suffered byhim.
(3) Thepreceding paragraph shallnotpreclude aclaim todamages exceeding theamount
referred totherein. Insuchacase, where there hasbeenneither wilfulness norgross
negligence onthepartoftheperson whohasinfringed thepatent rightortheexclusive
licence, thecourt maytakethisintoconsideration when awarding damages.
cf. Article 38oftheTrademark Law, Article 39oftheDesign Law, Article 114ofthe
Copyright Law, Article 25oftheActConcerning theLayout ofaSemiconductor
Integrated Circuit.
Presumption ofnegligence:
Article 103ofthePatent Law
Aperson whohasinfringed apatent rightorexclusive licence ofanother person shall
bepresumed tohavebeennegligent asfarastheactofinfringement isconcerned.
cf. Article 103ofthePatent Lawshallbeapplied mutatis mutandis intheTrademark Law.
cf. Article 40oftheDesign Law.
Expenses:
Article 89oftheCode ofCivil Procedure
Thecourt costs shallbeborne bythelosing party.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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Destruction orother disposal:
Article 100ofthePatent Law
Apatentee oranexclusive licensee whoisacting under thepreceding paragraph may
demand thedestruction ofthearticles bywhich theactofinfringement wascommitted (including
thearticles manufactured bytheactofinfringement inthecaseofapatented invention ofa
process ofmanufacture), theremoval ofthefacilities usedfortheactofinfringement, orother
measures necessary toprevent theinfringement.
cf. Paragraph 2ofArticle 36oftheTrademark Law, paragraph 2ofArticle 37ofthe
Design Law, paragraph 2ofArticle 112oftheCopyright Law, paragraph 2of
Article 22oftheActConcerning theLayout ofaSemiconductor Integrated Circuit.
Measures forrecovery ofreputation:
Article 106ofthePatent Law
Upon therequest ofapatentee orexclusive licensee, thecourt may,inlieuofdamages
orinaddition thereto, order aperson whohasinjured thebusiness reputation ofthepatentee
orexclusive licensee byinfringing thepatent rightorexclusive licence, whether intentionally
ornegligently, totakethemeasures necessary fortherecovery ofthebusiness reputation.
cf. Article 106ofthePatent Lawshallbeapplied mutatis mutandis intheTrademark Law
andtheDesign Law.
cf. Article 115oftheCopyright Law.
6. Inwhat circumstances, ifany,dojudicial authorities have theauthority toorder the
infringer toinform theright holder oftheidentity ofthird persons involved inthe
production anddistribution ofthegoods orservices found tobeinfringing andoftheir
channels ofdistribution?
Judicial authorities donothavesuchauthority.
7. Describe provisions relating totheindemnification ofdefendants wrongfully enjoined.
Towhat extent arepublic authorities and/or officials liable insuchasituation andwhat
"remedial measures" areapplicable tothem?
Itisstipulated thatcourt costs shallbeborne bythelosing party (Article 89oftheCode of
Civil Procedure).
Asfordamages caused bybeing involved inasuitentailing expenses ofattorney 'sfeesetc.,
aparty mayclaim thecompensation forthedamages onthebasis ofgeneral principles oftheCivil
Code (Article 709oftheCivil Code).
When apublic official whoexercises public power ofthenational government oralocal
government damages aperson deliberately oraccidentally, thenational orlocalgovernment shallbe
responsible forcompensation forthedamages (Article 1oftheState Redress Law).IP/N/6/JPN/1
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8. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
There isnoprovision which directly governs thelength ofproceedings, butitisunderstood
thatpeople havetheconstitutional rights tospeedy proceedings inacourt.
According totheAnnual Report ofJudicial Statistics of1993, theactual duration ofproceedings
ofcivilcases (from afiling datetocompletion ofatrial) isasfollows:
- Thetotalnumber ofcases which district courts havedealtwithwas138,040, 8,374
ofwhich werecompleted within onemonth, 21,472 within twomonths, 24,276 within
three months, 28,909 within sixmonths, 21,605 within oneyear, 19,439 within two
years, 7,208 within three years, 3,094 within fouryears, 1,532 within fiveyears and
2,131 overfiveyears.
- Asforfiling feesofcivilcases, paragraph 1ofArticle 3andparagraph 1oftheattached
list1oftheLawConcerning theCostofCivil Procedure provide forthese feesso
astoincrease them corresponding tothevalue oftheobject ofasuit.
According totheLaw, examples ofconcrete filing areasfollows:
- 3,000 yenforacaseofthevalue of300,000 yen,8,600 yenforacaseofthevalue
of1,000,000 yen,and22,600 yenforacaseofthevalue of3,000,000 yen.
(b) Administrative procedures andremedies
9. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative procedures onthemerits
andremedies thatmayresult from these procedures.
Noadministrative procedures onthemerits exist.
Provisional Measures
(a) Judicial measures
10. Describe thetypes ofprovisional measures thatjudicial authorities mayorder, andthe
legal basis forsuchauthority.
(1) Asforcivilprovisional relief, theCode ofCivil Preservative Procedures provides for
"provisional orders regarding objects concerned" and"provisional orders deciding a
provisional status" asprovisional measures which courts mayorder.
Forexample, acourt hasanauthority toprohibit provisionally goods infringing IPRs
fromentering intochannels ofcommerce. (This measure corresponds toa"provisional
order deciding aprovisional status".) When acourt orders toprohibit provisionally
disposition ofgoods infringing IPRs, theprovisional measure has,simultaneously, an
effect ofpreservation ofevidence related tothealleged infringement.
(2) Theprovisional order regarding objects concerned maybeissued where acourt
concludes thereisapossibility thattheapplicant would notbeabletoexercise, orwould
come tofaceextreme difficulties inexercising, itsright because ofachange inthe
situation ofsuchobjects (paragraph 1ofArticle 23oftheCode ofCivil PreservativeIP/N/6/JPN/1
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Procedures). Itisnotalways necessary forthecourt togiveanopportunity totheother
party topresent itsopinion prior totheissuance oftheprovisional order.
Theprovisional order deciding aprovisional status maybeissued where acourt
concludes thatsuchanorder isnecessary foravoiding extreme damage orimminent
danger which theapplicant would suffer regarding thelegal relations atissue
(paragraph 2ofArticle 23oftheCode ofCivilPreservative Procedures). Inprinciple,
thecourt shall gothrough oralpleading orinterrogation which theadverse party
concerned mayattend prior totheissuance oftheorder. However, where thecourt
considers itwould beimpossible toaccomplish thepurpose oftherequest forthe
provisional order ifitwentthrough suchprocedures, thecourtmayissuetheprovisional
measure without going through suchprocedures (paragraph 4ofArticle 23oftheCode
ofCivil Preservative Procedures).
11. Inwhat circumstances maysuchmeasures beordered inaudita altera parte?
Seeanswer toquestion 10.
12. Describe themain procedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance inforce of
provisional measures, inparticular relevant time-limits andsafeguards toprotect the
legitimate interests ofthedefendant.
Theprocedure fortheprovisional measures isinitiated upontherequest ofaparty concerned.
Following thehearing from theparty (orbothparties), thecourt determines whether thelegal
requirements forissuing theorder oftheprovisional measure aremet. Ifthecourt determines toissue
theorder, theorder isserved onthedefendant (Article 17oftheCode ofCivilPreservative Procedures).
Thedefendant mayrequest thecourt toannul theorder byraising anobjection (Article 26oftheCode
ofCivil Preservative Procedures).
Inaddition, based ontherequest from thedefendant, thecourt which issued theorder shall
fixacertain reasonable period andrequire theapplicant:
(1) tofilethecaseonthemerits andtoprovide written evidence offiling thecasewithin
suchperiod; or
(2) toprovide written evidence ofpendency ofcasewithin suchperiod, ifthecaseisalready
filed.
Incasetheapplicant failstoprovide suchevidence within therequired period, thedefendant
mayrequest thecourt toannul theorder (paragraphs 1and3ofArticle 37oftheCode ofCivil
Preservative Procedures).
13. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
There isnoprovision which directly governs thelength ofproceedings, butitisunderstood
thatpeople havetheconstitutional rights tospeedy proceedings inacourt.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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According totheAnnual Report ofJudicial Statistics of1993, theactual duration ofproceedings
ofthecases related toprovisional measures based ontheCode ofCivil Preservative Procedures isas
follows:
- Thetotalnumber ofcases which district courts havedealtwithwas12,113, 7,010 of
which werecompleted within 10days, 1,302 within 20days, 687within onemonth,
1,106 within twomonths, 635within threemonths, 822within sixmonths, 407within
oneyear, 128within twoyears and16within three years.
- Asforfeesofrequests forcivilpreservative orders, paragraph 1ofArticle 3and
paragraph 11-2oftheattached list1oftheLawConcerning theCostofCivilProcedure
stipulate thatthese feesare1,500 yen.
(b) Administrative measures
14. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative provisional measures.
Noadministrative procedures other thanborder measures exist.
Special Requirements Related toBorder Measures
15. Indicate forwhich goods itispossible toapply forthesuspension bythecustoms authorities
oftherelease intofreecirculation, inparticular whether these procedures areavailable
alsoinrespect ofgoods which involve infringements ofintellectual property rights other
thancounterfeit trademark orpirated copyright goods asdefined intheTRIPS Agreement
(footnote toArticle 51). Specify, together withrelevant criteria, anyimports excluded
from theapplication ofsuchprocedures (such asgoods from another member ofacustoms
union, goods intransit ordeminimis imports). Dotheprocedures apply toimports of
goods putonthemarket inanother country byorwiththeconsent oftheright holder
andtogoods destined forexportation?
Thesuspension oftherelease intofreecirculation inthedomestic market bycustoms authorities
maybeapplied togoods which involve infringement ofpatent rights, utility model rights, industrial
design rights, trademark rights, copyrights, neighbouring rights orcircuit layout rights (Article 21
oftheCustoms Tariff Law).
Asforgoodswhichinvolveinfringementoftrademarkrights,copyrightsorneighbouringrights,
theprocedures areadopted toenable aholder ofthese rights tolodge anapplication withcustoms
authorities, thecompetent authorities, forthesuspension ofrelease intofreecirculation ofsuchgoods
bythecustoms authorities (Article 21bisoftheCustoms Tariff Law).
Thesame procedures arenotadopted inrespect ofgoods which involve infringement of
intellectual property rights otherthantrademark rights, copyrights orneighbouring rights. Arightholder
ofthese other rights may, however, provide information onthegoods which involve infringement of
suchrights forthecustoms authorities, thereby urging thesuspension oftheirrelease intofreecirculation
(Guidelines Concerning theControl ofGoods which Infringe Intellectual Property Rights, Ministry
ofFinance, Customs andTariff Bureau, Document No.1192, 28December 1994).
Theabove-mentioned suspension ofrelease bycustoms authorities applies togoods imported
withanimport declaration andtointernational parcels which havebeenpresented tocustoms authorities
bypostoffice. Goods intransit, ofwhich destinations arecountries other thanJapan, arenotsubject
tosuchsuspension.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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Asfarastrademarks areconcerned, theprocedures donotapply togoods imported which
were putonthemarket legally inthethirdcountry withtheconsent oftherightholder.
16. Provide adescription ofthemain elements oftheprocedures relating tothesuspension
oftherelease ofgoods bycustoms authorities, inparticular thecompetent authorities
(Article 51),therequirements foranapplication (Article 52)andvarious requirements
related totheduration ofsuspension (Article 55). How have Articles 53(security or
equivalent assurance), 56(indemnification oftheimporter andoftheowner ofthegoods)
and57(right ofinspection andinformation) been implemented?
Inaccordance withArticle 51oftheTRIPS Agreement, theprocedures areadopted toenable
arightholder oftrademark rights, copyrights orneighbouring rights, tolodge anapplication withthe
competent authorities forthesuspension bythecustoms authorities oftherelease intofreecirculation
ofgoods which involve infringement ofhistrademark rights, copyrights orneighbouring rights. The
saidcompetent authorities arethecustoms authorities, andtherightholder maylodge theapplication
withthecustoms authorities.
Theperson whointends tolodge theapplication withthecustoms authorities shallsubmit to
thecustoms authorities anapplication form indicating thefollowing items, together withevidence
necessary tosupport theallegation ofinfringement: (1)thecontents oftherights oftheapplicant;
(2)thename ofgoods thatareconsidered toinfringe these rights; (3)thereasons toconsider that
thegoods infringe theserights; (4)theperiod ofthevalidity oftheapplication thattheapplicant wishes,
etc.
Thecustoms authorities examine thesaidapplication. Where thecustoms authorities recognize
thatthere isnotsufficient evidence intheapplication tosupport thealleged infringement, thecustoms
authorities mayreject theapplication.
Incases where thecustoms authorities believe thatthereareanygoods thatcorrespond togoods
whichinvolveinfringementoftheserightsamonggoodswhicharetobeimported,thecustomsauthorities
shalltaketheidentification procedure toidentify whether theycorrespond togoods which involve
infringement ofthese rights ornot,during which therelease intofreecirculation ofsuchgoods is
suspended. Inthissituation, thecustoms authorities shallnotify theimporter ofthegoods aswellas
theholder oftherights thattheidentification procedure willbetaken onthegoods. Intheidentification
procedure, thecustoms authorities shallgiveanopportunity topresent evidence andtodeclare opinions
totheholder ofrights aswellastheimporter. Asfortheevidence onwhich identification concerning
theinfringement willbemade, thecustoms authorities shallgivetherightholder andtheimporter an
opportunity todeclare opinions about suchevidence.
If,during theprocess ofthesuspension oftherelease intofreecirculation ofsuchgoods and
theidentification procedure taken uponanapplication bytherightholder, theopinions oftherightholder
andtheimporter conflict witheachother, theprocedure would takealongtimeandpossibly cause
damages totheimporter duetotheinability toimport thegoods untiltheconclusion oftheidentification
procedure, thecustoms authorities mayorder theapplicant todeposit theamount ofmoney orvaluable
securities deemed proper tothedesignated depository byafixeddate,onthecondition thatthecustoms
authorities identify theneedforsecurity against suchdamages. Where theperson ordered tomake
thedeposit doesnotdeposit themoney orother equivalent assurance bythefixed date, thecustoms
authorities mayterminate theidentification procedure andrelease thegoods intofreecirculation.
Theimporter ofthegoods mayreceive therepayment fromdeposited money orotherequivalent
assurances, asthecompensation fordamages totheimporter. Inthiscase, theimporter shalllodge
anapplication inwriting withthecustoms authorities fortheirapproval aswellasadocument whichIP/N/6/JPN/1
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proves theamount ofactual damages caused totheimporter. Theamount shallbeproved bysuch
means asajudicial decision, which theimporter acquires byfiling asuitwithacourt, oracompromise
reached between theimporter andtheapplicant.
Where thecustoms authorities suspend therelease intofreecirculation ofgoods tobeimported
uponanapplication bytheholder oftrademark rights, copyright orneighbouring rights, theapplicant
andtheimporter shalleachbegiven anopportunity toinspect thegoods upontheirrespective request.
Thequantity ofthegoods willbedisclosed totherightholder, butthename, address andother
information oftheimporter willnotbedisclosed.
17. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost. How longisthevalidity of
decisions bythecompetent authorities forthesuspension oftherelease ofgoods intofree
circulation?
Inaccordance with"Guidelines Concerning TheControl ofGoods Which Infringe Intellectual
Property Rights "(Ministry ofFinance, Customs andTariff Bureau, Document No.1192,
28December 1994),thelength oftheidentification procedure should bewithin onemonth from the
dateofthecommencement oftheidentification procedure. There isnofeerelative totheidentification
procedure.
18. Arecompetent authorities required toactupon their owninitiative and,ifso,inwhat
circumstances? Arethere anyspecial provisions applicable toexofficio action?
Incases where thecustoms authorities believe thatthereareanygoods thatcorrespond togoods
which involve infringement ofintellectual property rights protected bylaws, suchaspatent rights,
among goods withrespect towhich animport declaration ismade, thecustoms authorities shalltake
theidentification procedure irrespective ofwhether theapplication fortheprocedure islodged ornot.
19. Describe theremedies thatthecompetent authorities havetheauthority toorder andany
criteria regulating their use.
Thecustoms authorities mayconfiscate anddestroy thegoods which involve infringement of
patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, trademark rights, copyrights, neighbouring rights,
orcircuit layout rights thataretobeimported, ororder animporter ofsuchgoods (excluding thegoods
which involve infringement oftrademark rights) toreship them.
Criminal Procedures
20. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofIPRs.
Acourt offirstinstance which hasjurisdiction overcriminal cases regarding IPRinfringement
isadistrict court. Anappeal against adistrict court judgement inthese cases maybefiledwithahigh
court, andafurther appeal withtheSupreme Court. However, asummary court isacourt offirst
instance forcertain minor offences asprescribed bylaw. Where asummary court isacourt offirst
instance, anappeal maybefiledwithahighcourt, andafurther appeal withtheSupreme Court.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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21. Inrespect ofwhich infringements ofwhich intellectual property rights arecriminal
procedures andpenalties available?
Anyperson whocommitted thefollowing offence shallbesentenced toimprisonment orfined:
Patents:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 196(1) ofthePatent Law
(2) Offence offalsemarking: Articles 188and198ofthePatent Law
Industrial Designs:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 69(1) oftheDesign Law
(2) Offence offalsemarking: Articles 65and71oftheDesign Law
Trademarks:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 78oftheTrademark Law
(2) Offence offalsemarking: Articles 74and80oftheTrademark Law
Copyright andRelated Rights:
Offence ofinfringement: Article 119oftheCopyright Law
Layout ofaSemiconductor Integrated Circuit:
Offence ofinfringement: Article 51(1) oftheActConcerning theLayout ofa
Semiconductor Integrated Circuit
22. Which public authorities areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings? Arethey
required todothisontheir owninitiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints?
Judicial police officials andpublic prosecutors mayinitiate criminal investigation ontheirown
initiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints. When ajudicial police official hascompleted the
investigation, heshallsendthecasetoapublic prosecutor, andthepublic prosecutor decides whether
thesuspect should beindicted ornot.Asforinfringement ofIPRs, acomplaint isgenerally required
forindictment.
23. Doprivate persons have standing toinitiate criminal proceedings and,ifso,who?
No.However, aprivate person mayfileacomplaint withajudicial police official orapublic
prosecutor. Inthiscase, where prosecution isinstituted, ordisposition nottoinstitute prosecution
ismade, notice tothateffect shall, bythepublic prosecutor, bepromptly given tothecomplainant
(Article 260oftheCode ofCriminal Procedure).IP/N/6/JPN/1
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24. Specify, bycategory ofIPRandtypeofinfringement where necessary, thepenalties and
other remedies thatmaybeimposed:
- imprisonment;
- monetary fines;
- seizure,forfeitureanddestructionofinfringinggoodsandmaterialsandimplements
fortheir production;
- other.
Imprisonment andFines
Patents:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 196(1) ofthePatent Law
Anyperson whoinfringed apatent right oranexclusive licence shallbesentenced
toimprisonment fornotmore thanfiveyears orfined notmore than5,000,000 yen.
(2) Offence offalsemarking: Article 198ofthePatent Law
Anyperson whoinfringed Article 188shallbesentenced toimprisonment fornotmore
thanthree years orfined notmore than3,000,000 yen.
(3) Dual liability: Article 201ofthePatent Law
Where anofficer representing alegal entity orarepresentative of,anemployee of
oranyother person working foralegalentity oranatural person committed anactinviolation
ofArticles 196(1), 197or198,inconnection withthebusiness ofthelegalentity ornatural
person, thelegalentity orthenatural person shall, inaddition totheoffender, beliable tothe
fineprescribed byArticles 196(1), 197or198,respectively.
Industrial Designs:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 69(1) oftheDesign Law
Anyperson whoinfringed adesign rightoranexclusive licence shallbesentenced
toimprisonment fornotmore thanthree years orfined notmore than3,000,000 yen.
(2) Offence offalsemarking: Article 71oftheDesign Law
Anyperson whoinfringed Article 65shallbesentenced toimprisonment fornotmore
thanoneyearorfined notmore than1,000,000 yen.
(3) Dual liability: Article 74oftheDesign Law
Where anofficer representing alegal entity orarepresentative of,anemployee of
oranyother person working foralegalentity oranatural person committed anactinviolation
ofArticles 69(1), 70or71,inconnection withthebusiness ofthelegalentity ornatural person,
thelegal entity orthenatural person shall, inaddition totheoffender, beliable tothefine
prescribed byArticle 69(1), 70or71,respectively.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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Trademarks:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 78oftheTrademark Law
Anyperson whoinfringed atrademark rightoranexclusive licence shallbesentenced
toimprisonment fornotmore thanfiveyears orfined notmore than5,000,000 yen.
(2) Offence offalsemarking: Article 80oftheTrademark Law
Anyperson whoinfringed Article 74shallbesentenced toimprisonment fornotmore
thanthree years orfined notmore than3,000,000 yen.
(3) Dual liability: Article 82oftheTrademark Law
Where anofficer representing alegal entity orarepresentative of,anemployee of
oranyother person working foralegalentity oranatural person committed anactinviolation
ofArticles 78to80,inconnection withthebusiness ofthelegalentity ornatural person, the
legalentity orthenatural person shall, inaddition totheoffender, beliable tothefineprescribed
byArticles 78to80,respectively.
Copyright andRelated Rights:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 119(i) oftheCopyright Law
Anyperson whoinfringed amoral right, copyright, rightofpublication orneighbouring
rightshallbesentenced toimprisonment fornotmore thanthree years orfined notmore than
1,000,000 yen.
(2) Dual liability: Article 124(1) oftheCopyright Law
Where anofficer representing alegal entity orarepresentative of,anemployee of
oranyother person working foralegalentity oranatural person committed anactinviolation
ofArticles 119to122,inconnection withthebusiness ofthelegalentity orthenatural person,
thelegal entity orthenatural person shall, inaddition totheoffender, beliable tothefine
prescribed byArticles 119to122,respectively.
Layout ofaSemiconductor Integrated Circuit:
(1) Offence ofinfringement: Article 51(1) oftheActConcerning theLayout ofa
Semiconductor Integrated Circuit
Anyperson whoinfringed acircuit layout rightorasoleuserightshallbesentenced
toimprisonment fornotmore thanthree years orfined notmore than1,000,000 yen.
(2) Dual Liability: Article 56oftheActConcerning theLayout ofa
Semiconductor Integrated Circuit
Where anofficer representing alegal entity orarepresentative of,anemployee of
oranyother person working foralegalentity oranatural person committed anactinviolation
ofArticles 51(1) or52,inconnection withthebusiness ofthelegalentity ornatural person,
thelegal entity orthenatural person shall, inaddition totheoffender, beliable tothefine
prescribed byArticles 51(1) or52,respectively.IP/N/6/JPN/1
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Seizure, Forfeiture andDestruction ofInfringing Goods andMaterials andImplements fortheir
Production
Seizure tobemade byacourt isprovided forinChapter IX(Articles 99to127)oftheCode
ofCriminal Procedure and,ifmade byalawenforcement agency, inArticles 218to220and222of
thesame Code.
Forfeiture isprovided forinArticle 19ofthePenal Code. (Also, please refer totheLaw
Concerning Temporary Measures fortheProcedure ofConfiscation oftheProperties Belonging tothe
Third Party intheCriminal Cases .)
Destruction (enforcement offorfeiture) istobecarried outbyapublic prosecutor inaccordance
withtheprovisions ofArticles 490to492and496oftheCode ofCriminal Procedure.
25. Describeprovisionsgoverningthelengthandanycostofproceedings.Provideanyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost, ifany.
(1) Provisions governing thelength ofproceedings:
Paragraph 1ofArticle 37oftheConstitution -inallcriminal cases theaccused shall
enjoy therighttoaspeedy andpublic trialbyanimpartial tribunal.
(2) Provisions governing thecostofproceedings:
Article 181oftheCode ofCriminal Procedure -where punishment ispronounced,
thewhole orapartofthecosts oftrialshallbecharged totheaccused. However,
thisshallnotapply incaseitisevident thattheaccused isunable topaysuchcosts
because ofpoverty.
Even where nopunishment ispronounced, anycosts which havearisen fromacause
imputable totheaccused maybecharged tohim.
When onlyapublic prosecutor lodges anappeal, andtheappeal isdismissed or
withdrawn, thecosts connected withtheappeal shallnotbecharged totheaccused.
Article 182ofthesaidCode -thecosts oftrialagainst co-offenders maybeborne by
them jointly andseverally.
Article 183ofthesaidCode -where adecision ofinnocence oracquittal ispronounced
onthecasewithrespect towhich prosecution wasinstituted uponcomplaint, accusation
orrequest made bythecomplainant, accuser orperson whomade therequest inbad
faithorwithgross negligence, thecosts oftrialmaybecharged tohim.
(3) Wecould notfinddataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheircost.