WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
11 October 2007 
 
 (07-4363) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English 
 
 
 
REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 
OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
 
JAPAN 
 
Addendum  
  
 The following communication, dated 1 October 2007, from the Delegation of Japan is being 
circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Decisi on on Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS 
Agreement (IP/C/28). 
_______________ 
 
  The Government of Japan has been conduc ting development cooperation activities in many 
fields, including intellectual property.  Of cour se, one of the most important objectives of the 
cooperation activities is to promote and en courage the transfer of technology. 
 With regard to the incentives that Japan pr ovides enterprises and ins titutions in Japan, the 
Government of Japan would like to report on the following activities.  The Government of Japan believes that the following activities contribute to ra ising the level of technological infrastructure in 
the least developed countries, which will bring about further technology transfer. 
I. ACCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES 
A. A
CCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR  
1. JICA Activities 
1. JICA, Japan International Cooperation Agency, is responsible for implementing government-
based technical cooperation through the use of Ja pan's ODA (Official Development Assistance) 
budget. 
2. JICA conducts training for government-related pe rsons in developing countries.  It conducts 
group training in accordance with a predetermine d programme based on needs that are common to 
developing countries. 
2. Activities in the field of intellectual property rights 
3. The JPO, Japan Patent Office, has been  holding group training courses on intellectual 
property rights (IPRs) for government officials, in cooperation with JICA and the Asia-Pacific 
Industrial Property Center (APIC) of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII).  In 
FY 2006, the following ten group training courses were  held and 191 participants in total received 
training: IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
  - for APEC member economies: 
• The Group Training Course in Intellectua l Property for APEC Economies is a 
one-month course for administrative officials working in areas related to IPR and examiners of IPRs.  Participants are divided into four groups according to their specialties:  IP administration and edu cation, patents, industrial designs and 
trademarks. 
• The IP Enforcement Workshop for Indonesi an Officials is a two-week course for 
the members of the Indonesian National Team tackling infringements of IPR. 
These training courses were implemented by the JPO and Japan International 
Cooperation Agency (JICA) in cooperation with the APIC/JIII. 
- for the ESCAP region: 
• The Training Course on the Enforcement of IPR under WIPO Funds-in-
Trust/Japan is a two-week course for senio r officials engaged in the enforcement 
of IPRs in enforcement-related government agencies. 
• The Training Course on the Use of Information Technology in IP Administration 
under WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan is a two-week course for senior officials of IP offices responsible for information technology matters. 
• The Training Course on the Examination Practices of Industrial Property under 
WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan is a three-week  course for examiners in the field of 
IPRs.  Participants are divided into th ree groups according to their specialties:  
patents, industrial designs and trademarks. 
• The Training Course on Industrial Property Administration under WIPO Funds-
in-Trust/Japan is a two-week course for sen ior officials in IP offices in charge of 
general administration and policy planning. 
• The Training Courses for patent examiners on specified technologies under 
WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan are five-day  courses.  Three kinds of courses 
(biotechnology, pharmaceutical technology and computer program) were held for 
patent examiners in their respective fields.  
These seven training courses were organized by  the WIPO and managed by the JPO, in 
cooperation with the APIC of JIII. 
• The Group Training Course on Intellectual Property Protection for Chinese 
Government Officials is a five-day co urse for patent examiners and judges. 
The training course is implemented by th e JPO and the JICA, in cooperation with 
APIC/JIII.  
3. Activities in the field of plant variety protection 
4. This JICA training course was started in 2000 in  cooperation with NCSS (National Center for 
Seed and Seedling) to contribute to the protection of plant breeders' rights.  In FY 2006, nine trainees have been accepted from various countries.  IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
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  4. Activities in the field of Copyrights 
5. The JCO, Japan Copyright Office, has been planning and carrying out the following 
programmes in order to develop copyright systems in developing countries a nd to strengthen regional 
cooperation among Asia Pacific countries.   
 - APACE Programme (since 1993) 
 
  Since its establishment in 1993, Asia -Pacific Copyright Systems Enhancement 
(APACE) Programme has contributed to the development of copyright systems in Asia-Pacific countries in cooperation with WI PO.  The APACE programme mainly consists 
of several activities such as Annual Regional Symposium, Training Programme in Tokyo, 
Sub-Regional Seminar, Experts Missions, Tr aining on Collective Management, and the 
National Seminar on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights. 
 
 - The Asia-Pacific Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Seminar (since 1997)  
  This programme has been organized on ce a year since 1997 in order to provide 
opportunities for exchanging information and views on copyright and neighbouring rights 
issues with copyright experts from Asia-Pacific countries.  
 - JICA Group Training Course (since 1998) 
 
  This training course has been organi zed since 1998, in cooperation with Japan 
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for th e development of copyright systems and its 
enforcement in developing countries. 
5. Activities in the field of pharmaceutical sectors 
6. As the provision of quality medicines form the foundation of healthcare, the establishment of 
a system that can consistently manufacture eff ective safe and high-quality medicines is a task of 
extreme importance. 
7. Furthermore, the spread of counterfeit medici nes is a great public health problem as it not 
only threatens people's health but also harbours the risk of spawning resistant bacteria.  As such, 
strengthening measures to combat the distribution of counterfeit medicines is also of great 
importance. 
8. From these perspectives, the Government of  Japan, through JICA a nd Japan International 
Corporation of Welfare Services (JICWELS), conducts  the following training programmes in order to 
develop and reinforce specialist personnel engaged in pharmaceutical administration. 
 - The Study Programme for Pharmaceutical Affairs Experts 
This study programme is for officials in charge of the planning and administration of 
pharmaceutical affairs administration at A SEAN and other countries.  The programme 
includes presentations on Japan's legal framewor k  and related systems, study tours to 
the national research institution, local governments, manufacturers of medicines and 
vaccines, as well as information shari ng among participants, with the view of 
enhancing pharmaceutical administration in pa rticipating countries.  In FY 2006, we 
welcomed eight participations from eight  different countries, including Cambodia, 
Laos PDR and Myanmar. IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
Page 4  
 
   - The Study Programme on Manufacturing Control of Essential Drugs - GMP Course 
This study programme is for governme nt pharmaceutical inspectors and key 
personnel in charge of quality assurance of medicines at ASEAN and other countries.  
The programme aims for strengthening ma nufacturing and quality control of essential 
medicines in complying with GMP in participating countries, and provides specialist 
training through presentations on Japan's pha rmaceutical legislation and related 
systems, study tours to the national re search institution, local governments, 
manufacturers of medicines and vaccines,  as well as through the exchange of 
information amongst participants.  In FY 2006, we welcomed eight participations 
from eight different countries, including Cambodia, Laos PDR and Myanmar.  
B. A
CCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR  
1. AOTS activities - Training courses to assi st human-resource development in business 
and industrial sectors. 
9. AOTS, the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship, is a public organization 
established in 1959.  Its main purpose is to promot e technical cooperation for the industrialization and 
development of developing count ries and to enhance mutual unde rstanding and friendly relations 
between these countries and Japan. 
10. These activities include training courses for technical personnel in industrial sectors of 
developing countries.  The objective is to foster the transfer of skills and know-how of Japanese 
industries. 
 - Training programmes in Japan 
 
• Training courses conducted by private sector companies for the purpose of 
human resource development in the industrial sectors of developing countries. 
• Management training conducted on an industry specific basis for the purpose 
of educating workers in charge of management, production, and 
quality-control of companies, as well as those involved in environmental 
protection and the promotion of supporting industries. 
 - Overseas training programmes 
 
• Training in such areas as general skills , management techniques, and principal 
systems implemented with the c ooperation of cooperating overseas 
institutions. 
 - Assisting Human Resource Development and Industrial Development in the Least 
Developed Countries as part of the "O ne-Village one-Product (OVOP) Project" 
 
• The "One-Village one-Product (OVOP)" movement aims to assist people at 
the local communities in identify prom ising products for manufacture taking 
into account local characteristics of thei r villages and towns, and help develop 
and market them to make them competitive not only domestically but also internationally.  The original movement began in Japan in 1979. 
• Last February, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) 
launched the international "One Village, One Product" Campaign so that the  IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  movement will contribute in helpin g LDCs develop their economies by 
fostering their local traditional industries, including textile and handicraft industries. 
• An OVOP programme ran for nine days  from August 29 to 6 September last 
year through the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS).  Eighty people (59 males and 21 females)  from 45 LDCs participated.  The 
objective of this programme was to cultivate talented individuals for the 
project concerning the promotion of traditional local industries at their respective countries and identifying local specialties. 
• This project was also designed to provide participants with an opportunity to 
gain basic knowledge, learn about the theoretical aspects behind the OVOP 
movement, learn about model cases, the mechanism of the movement and the 
practices of international trade.  Throug h participation in the African Fair, the 
Africa Symposium and other events that were being held during the programme, the programme was also desi gned to provide participants with a 
broad range of knowledge and experience necessary for developing the OVOP 
movement  domestically.  At the end of the programme, participants from each region made presentations summarizing the programme, in which 
practical action plans to be implem ented in their home countries were 
announced.
 
2. JPO activities 
11. The JPO has also been holding the following group training courses on industrial property 
rights for trainees from the private-sector: 
 - JPO/IPR Training Course for Lawyers 
 
  Trainees of this three-week course include patent attorneys and/or IP lawyers, 
corporate employees who are engaged in, amongst others, liaison for legal affairs 
dealing with license agreements and infri ngement of rights, and judges and/or 
prosecutors. 
  - JPO/IPR Training Course for IP Trainers  
  Trainees of this three-week course  are employees at universities or research 
institutions involved in education on the Intellectual Property system and those 
engaged in the dissemination of IPRs at IP assistance organizations. 
  - JPO/IPR Training Course for Advanced IP Practitioners 
 
  Trainees of this three-week course incl ude IP practitioners in private businesses, 
patent attorneys, IP lawyers, and employees at patent/law offices, and others providing guidance and advi ce to businesses at IP assistance organizations. 
  - JPO/IPR Training Course for Advanced IP Practitioners working at Japanese Firm 
 
 Trainees of this three-week course incl ude IP practitioners in private businesses, 
patent attorneys, IP lawyers, and employees at patent/law offices, and others providing guidance and advi ce to businesses at IP assistance organizations. 
 IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
Page 6  
 
   - JPO/IPR Training Course for Chinese IP Practitioners 
 
  Trainees of this three-week course incl ude IP practitioners in private businesses, 
patent attorneys, IP lawyers, and employees at patent/law offices, and others providing  guidance and advice to businesses at  IP assistance organizations in China. 
 
 - JPO/IPR Training Course for Patent Experts  
  Trainees of this three-week course incl ude patent practitioners in private businesses, 
patent attorneys and IP lawyers, and pe rsons engaged in patent work within 
organizations such as those disseminating and encouraging patent use and knowledge. 
 12. These training courses are managed by the JPO in cooperation with the APIC/JIII and the 
Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (A OTS).  In FY 2006, 94 participants received 
training. 
II. DISPATCH OF EXPERTS 
A. D
ISPATCH OF EXPERTS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR (JICA) 
13. JICA dispatches to developing countries, expert s with the skills and knowledge suited to the 
country's needs.  The dispatched experts contribute to the development of the partner country, raising 
its technological level by transmitting technical know ledge and skills to their counterparts in the 
partner countries, mainly in the government sect or.  The initiative prom otes activities such as 
investment promotion, trade promotion, and indu strial development by developing countries.  
B. DISPATCH OF EXPERTS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR (JODC)  - DISPATCH OF EXPERTS TO ASSIST 
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN TH E BUSINESS AND INDU STRIAL SECTORS . 
14. JODC, the Japan Overseas Development Corpora tion, is a non-profit organization established 
in 1970. 
15. These activities involve the dispatch of experts at the private-sector level to assist technical 
personnel within specific industrial sectors of devel oping countries.  At the request of private 
companies from developing countries, experts such as technicians and management experts are dispatched from Japan to provide advice and instru ction to the entities making these requests.  In this 
way, contributions can be made to developing countries in a variety of fields, focusing primarily in Asia.  Contributions include the promotion of economic and industrial structural reform, the 
enhancement of technical and mana gement skills within companies, and support for the spread of 
information technology at local industries. 
C. D
ISPATCH OF EXPERTS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR (JETRO)  - DISPATCH OF EXPERTS TO 
IMPROVE THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE TRADE AND INVESTMENT
. 
16. JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization,  was established by the Japanese Government 
in 1958 as the nation's principal organization for th e comprehensive implementation of trade policy.  
17. JETRO is engaged in dispatching of experts to assist developing countries in the 
establishment of various rules and institutions necessary to create a business environment conducive 
to trade and investment.  More specifically, at th e requests of private-sector bodies and other entities 
from developing countries, experts in such fields as intellectual property rights, standard and  IP/C/W/497/Add.1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  conformity assessment, and logistics are dispatched from Japan to provide advice and assistance to the 
entities making the requests. 
III. PILOT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT PR OGRAMME TO IMPROVE TRADE AND 
INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENTS (JETRO) 
18. This pilot project has been implemented to demons trate the validity of institutions and rules.  
For this purpose, private-sector companies, uni versities, NPOs amongst others, submit proposals for 
"Pilot Projects" that improve the business environment of developing countries to promote trade and investment. 
IV. RESEARCH COOPERATION 
19. Research cooperation differs from technical coope ration in that it takes the form of research 
and development that are adapted to the technologi cal development issues (technological needs) being 
addressed in the developing countries.  Assistan ce is implemented by New Energy and Industrial 
Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to research institutions in developing countries and 
other bodies working jointly with them. 
20. NEDO, the New Energy and Industrial Technol ogy Development Organization established in 
1980, is the largest public R&D management or ganization for promoting the development of 
advanced industrial, environmental, new energy and energy conservation technologies in Japan. 
21. The assistance is in the form of  joint research, which are carried out through the dispatch of 
research staff and technicians as well as the acceptance of research personnel from developing 
countries.  In addition, joint research is carried out through various activities including the production 
of materials and equipment necessary for research c ooperation, the installation of such materials and 
equipment in the host countries, a nd integrated operation and research.  
V. COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT STUDY - FEASIBILITY STUDY (JICA) 
22. Based upon requests from developing countries, JICA assists policy recommendations and/or 
comprehensive master plans with respect to the sectors essential for nation-building by those 
countries.  For specific development projects, feasi bility studies are conducted from various aspects in 
regard to their actual implementation.  Reports containing the results of those studies are compiled 
and submitted to the recipient government. 
23. The results of the aforementioned feasibility study activities such as policy recommendations, 
master plans, and feasibility studies, would be utilized as important and indispensable advice and 
information when developing countries make po licy decisions, and are also used as supporting 
materials when the countries make requests for fina ncial assistance from Japan, other donor countries, 
and international aid institutions. 
VI. OTHER ACTIVITIES - TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROJECTS (JICA) 
24. The Technical Cooperation Projects aim to provi de support for training of personnel required 
to achieve social and economic progress in deve loping countries and help the development and 
diffusion of technology and skills.  A timetable for c ooperation is set to achieve these aims.  Elements 
such as the dispatch of experts, acceptance of tech nical training participants and the provision of 
equipment are systematically linked and integrated into each and every aspect of Technical Cooperation Projects from the formulation of plans to their execution and evaluation. 
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