WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/480 
10 October 2006 
 (06-4845) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:  English 
 
 
 
REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 
OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
 
JAPAN 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 29 September 2006, from the Delegation of Japan is being circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Decision on Implementation of Article 66.2 of the 
TRIPS Agreement. 
 
 Communications from other developed country Me mbers will be circulated as addenda to this 
document. 
_______________ 
 
 
 The Government of Japan has been conduc ting development cooperation activities in many 
fields including intellectual property.  One of the most important objectives of the cooperation activities is to promote and encourage technology transfer.   With regard to the incentiv es Japan provides to enterprises and institutions in Japan, the 
Government of Japan will report on the following activ ities.  The Government of Japan believes that 
these activities will contribute to raising the le vel of technological infrastructure in the 
least-developed countries, which will bring about further technological transfer.  
I. ACCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES 
A. G
OVERNMENT SECTOR ACCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES  
1. JICA activity 
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 program based on needs that are common to 
developing countries. 
2. Activity 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 2005, the following six group training courses were held: IP/C/W/480 
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  - for APEC member economies: 
• "Group Training Course in Intellectual 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:  administration, patents, industrial designs and trademarks. 
• "IP Enforcement Workshop for Indonesian Officials" is a two-week course for 
police, customs and civil servant invest igations (PPNS: DGIPR) engaged mainly 
in the field of intellectual property in Indonesia. 
4. These training courses were implemented by Japan  International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 
in cooperation with the JPO and the APIC of JIII. 
- for the ESCAP region: 
• "Training Course on the Enforcement of IPR under World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO) Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a two-week course for senior 
officials engaged in the enforcement of  IPR in enforcement-related government 
agencies. 
• "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. 
• "Training Course on the Examination Pr actices of Industrial Property under 
WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a three-week  course for examiner s in the field of 
IPRs.  Participants are divided into th ree groups according to their specialties:  
patents, industrial designs and trademarks. 
• "Training Course on Industrial Property Administration under WIPO Funds-in-
Trust/Japan" is a two-week course for senio r officials in IP offices in charge of 
general administration and policy planning. 
5. These four training courses were organized by the WIPO and managed by the JPO in 
cooperation with the APIC of JIII. 
3. Activity in the field of plant variety protection 
6. This JICA training course was started in 2000 in  cooperation with NCSS (National Center for 
Seed and Seedling) to contribute to the protecti on of plant breeders' rights.  In FY 2005, seven 
trainees were accepted from various countries. 
4. Activity in the field of copyright 
7. JCO, Japan Copyright Office, h as been planning and carrying out the following programs in 
order to develop copyright systems in developing  countries and to strengthen regional cooperation 
among Asia-Pacific countries.   
 - APACE Program (since 1993) 
 
  Since its establishment in 1993, "Asi a-Pacific Copyright Systems Enhancement 
(APACE) Program" has contributed the development of copyright systems in Asia-Pacific  IP/C/W/480 
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  countries in cooperation with WIPO.  The AP ACE program mainly co nsists of several 
activities such as Annual Regional Symposium, Training Program in Tokyo, Sub-Regional 
Seminar, Experts Missions, Training on Collective Management, National Seminar on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, Sub- Regional Program, and Regional Program. 
 
 - Asia-Pacific Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Seminar (since 1997) 
 
  This program has been organized once a year since 1997 in order to provide opportunities to exchange information and view s on copyright and neighbouring rights issues 
to copyright experts from Asia-Pacific countries.  
 - JICA Group Training Course (since 1998) 
 
  This training course has been organized since 1998 in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the development of copyright systems and 
enforcement in developing countries. 
B. P
RIVATE SECTOR ACCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES  
1. AOTS activity 
Training to assist human resource devel opment in business and industrial sectors. 
8. AOTS, the Association for Overseas Technical  Scholarship, is a non-profit organization 
established in 1959.  Its main purpose is to promot e technical cooperation for the industrialization and 
development of developing coun tries and enhance mutual unde rstanding and friendly relations 
between those countries and Japan. 
9. These activities involve the provision of training at the private sector level for technical 
personnel within industrial sectors of developing countri es.  The objective is to foster the transfer of 
skills and know-how possessed by Japanese industries. 
 - Training programs in Japan (average period of 3.5 months;  4,389 trainees 
 received training in FY 2004 ) 
 
• Training 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 management, production, and quality-control personnel, as well 
as those involved in environmental prot ection and the promotion of supporting 
industries. 
 - Training programs overseas (period of 1-2 weeks;  4,933 trainees received 
 training in FY 2004) 
 
• Training in such areas as general skills, management techniques, and principal 
systems implemented with the cooperati on of overseas cooperation institutions. 
 - APEC Training programs (206 trainees recei ved training in Japan and 245 trainees 
received training overseas in FY 2004)  
 IP/C/W/480 
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  - Training on standardization and conforman ce, and measurements for developing 
countries of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Ec onomic Cooperation) member countries. 
2. JPO activity 
10. The JPO has also been holding the following gr oup training courses on industrial  property 
rights for trainees from the private sector: 
 - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Chinese Patent Experts" 
 
  Trainees of this three-week course incl ude patent practitioners in private businesses, 
IP lawyers, patent attorneys, and persons e ngaged in patent work within organizations 
such as those disseminating and encouraging patent use and knowledge in China. 
 
 - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Lawyers " 
 
  Trainees of this three-week course include patent attorneys and/or IP lawyers, 
corporate employees engaged as liaisons for legal affairs dealing with licence agreements and infringement of rights , among other things, 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 the IP R in IP promotional 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 persons 
undertaking guidance of business at IP promotional organizations. 
 
 - "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 persons 
undertaking guidance of business at IP promotional 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. 
 11. These training courses are managed by the JPO in cooperation with the APIC of JIII and the 
Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS). 
12. During the FY 2005, 92 persons received training.  IP/C/W/480 
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  II. DISPATCH OF EXPERTS 
A. GOVERNMENT -SECTOR DISPATCH OF EXPERTS (JICA) 
13. JICA dispatches, to developing countries, expe rts 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 counterparts in the partner 
country, principally in the government sector.  The initiative promotes activities such as investment 
promotion, trade promotion, and industria l development by developing countries.  
B. PRIVATE SECTOR DISPATCH OF EXPERTS (JODC) 
Dispatch of experts to assist human resource development in business and industrial 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 the requests.  In this 
way, contributions in a variety of spheres can be made to developing countries, primarily in Asia.  
Such 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 in local industries. 
C. P
RIVATE SECTOR DISPATCH OF EXPERTS (JETRO) 
Dispatch of experts to improve the business envir onment 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 the dispatch 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 request of private sector bodies and other entities 
from developing countries, experts in fields such as intellectual property rights, standard and conformity assessment, and logistics are dispatched from Japan to provide advice and assistance to the 
entity making the request. 
III. PILOT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT PROGRAM 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, unive rsities, NPOs and the like, submit proposals for 
"Pilot Projects" that improve the business environment of developing countries to promote trade and investment. 
 IP/C/W/480 
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  IV. RESEARCH COOPERATION 
19. Research cooperation differs from technical coope ration in that it takes the form of research 
and development adapted to tec hnology development issues (technological needs) being addressed by 
developing countries.  Assistance is provided indirectly, through the medium of the 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 a unique organization in that it coordinat es the funds, personnel, and technological strengths 
of both the public and private sectors in Japan. 
21. The assistance is in the form of the dispatch  of research staff and technicians and the conduct 
of joint research through the accep tance of research personnel from the countries concerned.  In 
addition, joint research is carried out through va rious activities including the production of materials 
and equipment necessary for research cooperation, the installation of such materials and equipment in 
the recipient countries, and integrated operation and conduct of research. 
V. COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES 
A. D
EVELOPMENT STUDIES (JICA) 
22. Based upon requests from developing count ries, policy recommendations and/or 
comprehensive master plans are formulated with re spect to the sectors essen tial for nation-building by 
those countries.  For specific development projects, feasibility 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 development study activities such as policy 
recommendations, master plans, and feasibility studi es, provide important and indispensable advice 
and information when developing countries make policy decisions, and are also used as supporting materials when the countries make requests of t echnical and financial assistance from Japan, other 
donor countries, and intern ational aid institutions. 
VI. OTHER ACTIVITIES 
A. T
ECHNICAL COOPERATION PROJECTS (JICA) 
24. The Technical Cooperation Project involves pr oviding support for training of personnel 
required to achieve social and economic progress in  developing countries and for the development 
and diffusion of technology and skills .  A period of cooperation is set to achieve these aims.  Elements 
such as dispatch of experts, acceptance of techni cal training participants and provision of equipment 
are organically linked into Technical Cooperation in  which every aspect - from the formulation of 
plans to their execution and evaluation - fa lls within a fully integrated whole. 
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