WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/452 
5 October 2005 
 (05-4463) 
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 1 October 2005, 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.   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.  Some of its activities have already been reported in the context 
of technical cooperation activities at the TRIPS C ouncil (IP/C/W/412).  Of course, 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 level of technological infrastructure in the least developed 
countries, which will bring about further technological transfer. 
I. ACCEPTANCE OF TRAINEES 
1. Government sector acceptance of trainees 
(i) JICA activity
 
JICA, Japan International Cooperation Ag ency, is responsible for implementing 
government-based technical cooperation th rough the use of Japan's ODA (Official 
Development Assistance) budget. 
 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. 
 (ii) Activity in the field of intellectual property rights  
 
 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 2004, the following six group training courses were held: IP/C/W/452 
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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 divi ded into four groups according to their 
specialties: administration, patents, industrial designs and trademarks. 
 - "IP Enforcement Workshop for Indonesian Officia ls" is a two-week course for judges, 
prosecutors and appeal examiners engaged mainly  in intellectual property civil suits 
in Indonesia.  
 
 These training courses were implemented by Jap an 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 WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a 
two-week course for senior officials e ngaged in the enforcement of IPR in 
enforcement-related government agencies. 
 
- "Training Course on the Use of Informa tion Technology in IP Administration under 
WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a two-week c ourse for senior officials of IP offices 
responsible for information technology matters. 
- "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 three groups a ccording 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 senior officials in IP offices in charge of general administration and policy planning. 
 These four training courses were organized by the WIPO and managed by the JPO in 
cooperation with the APIC of JIII. 
(iii) Activity in the field of plant variety protection
 
 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 2004, 11 trainees have been accepted from various countries.  
2. Private-sector acceptance of trainees  
(i) AOTS activity
 
 Training to assist human-resource development in business and industrial sectors. 
AOTS, the Association for Overseas Technica l Scholarship, is a non-profit organization 
established in 1959. Its main purpose is to promote technical cooperation for the 
industrialization and development of d eveloping countries and enhance mutual 
understanding and friendly relations between those countries and Japan.  IP/C/W/452 
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  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 industry. 
Training programmes in Japan (average period of 3.5 months;  4,389 trainees received training 
in FY 2004) 
• Training conducted by private-sector co mpanies for the purpose of human-resource 
development in the industrial sectors of developing countries. 
• Management training conducted on an indus try-specific basis for the purpose of 
educating management, production, and qua lity-control personnel, as well as those 
involved in environmental protection and the promotion of supporting industries. 
Training programmes overseas (period of 1-2 weeks;  4,933 trainees received training in 
FY 2004) 
• Training in such areas as general skills, mana gement techniques, and principal systems 
implemented with the cooperation of overseas cooperation institutions. 
APEC Training programmes (206 trainees received training in Japan and 245 trainees received 
training overseas in FY 2004)  
• Training on standardization and confor mance, and measurements for developing 
countries of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Ec onomic Cooperation) member countries. 
 (ii) JPO activity  
 The JPO has also been holding the followi ng group training courses on industrial property 
rights for trainees from the private-sector: 
 for APEC member economies: 
  - "Intellectual Property Rights Training Course for Executives " 
 
  Trainees of this two-week course include executives from the private-sector, IP 
managers and IP advisers. 
  - "Intellectual Property Rights Training  Course for Advanced IP Practitioners"  
 
  Trainees of this three-week course incl ude IP practitioners from the private-sector, 
research institutes, patent attorneys and/or  IP lawyers, and executive officers with 
leading roles in IP promotional organizations. 
  - "Intellectual Property Rights Training Course for Lawyers"  
 
  Trainees of this three-week course include  patent attorneys and/or IP lawyers, and 
law school professors. 
 IP/C/W/452 
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  - "Intellectual Property Rights Training Course for IP Trainers"  
 
  Trainees of this three-week course are  university professors and those engaged in the 
promotion of the IPR system in non-governmental organizations through lectures. 
 
 - "Intellectual Property Rights Training Course for Patent Experts"  
 
  Trainees of this three-week course include patent practitioners in private-sectors or 
institutes, patent attorneys and/or IP lawyer s, and executive officers with leading roles 
in IP promotional organizations. 
 
 - "Intellectual Property Rights Training Course for Chinese IP Practitioners"  
 
  Trainees of this three-week course are  executives of private-sectors, IP managers, and 
IP advisers in China. 
 
 for non-APEC member economies: 
  - "Training Programme on Intellectual Property Management"  
   The trainees include individuals in midd le and senior management positions or their 
equivalent in the private-sector, law firm s, research institutes and educational 
organizations.  The course lasts for two weeks. 
  These training courses are managed by the JPO in cooperation with the APIC of JIII and the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS). 
 
Training Programme on Intellectual Property Rights (AOTS) 
 This programme aims to develop personnel with ability and expertise in areas such as 
industrial property rights, patent administration and the infringement of rights.  The courses are 
designed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of IPRs and th e techniques required for 
smooth utilization of the IPR system. 
 During the FY 2004, 89 persons received training. 
II. DISPATCH OF EXPERTS 
1. Government-sector dispatch of experts (JICA) 
JICA dispatches, to developing countries, expe rts with the skills and knowledge suited to the 
country's needs.  The dispatched experts contri bute to the development of the partner country, 
raising its technological level by transmitting technical knowledge and skills to counterparts 
in the partner country, principally in the gove rnment sector.  The initiative promotes activities 
such as investment promotion, trade promoti on, and industrial development by developing 
countries.  
2. Private-sector dispatch of experts (JODC) 
 Dispatch of experts to assist human resour ce development in business and industrial sectors. 
JODC, the Japan Overseas Development Cor poration, is a non- profit organization 
established in 1970.  IP/C/W/452 
 Page 5 
 
 
  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. 
3. Private-sector dispatch of experts (JETRO) 
 Dispatch of experts to improve the business e nvironment of developing countries to promote 
trade and investment. 
 JETRO,  the Japan External Trade Organizatio n, was established by the Japanese 
Government in 1958 as the nation's prin cipal organization for the comprehensive 
implementation of trade policy.  
 JETRO is engaged in the dispatch of e xperts 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) 
This pilot project has been implemented to dem onstrate the validity of institutions and rules.  
For this purpose, private-sector companies, uni versities, NPOs and the like, submit proposals for 
"Pilot Projects" that improve the business environment of developing countries to promote trade and investment. 
 
IV. RESEARCH COOPERATION 
 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 Organi zation (NEDO), to research institutions in 
developing countries and other bodies working jointly with them. 
NEDO, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization 
established in 1980, is a unique organiza tion in that it coordinates the funds, 
personnel, and technological  strengths of both the public and private-sectors in 
Japan. 
 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. IP/C/W/452 
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 V. COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT STUDY 
Development study (JICA) 
 Based upon requests from developing c ountries, 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. 
 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 fi nancial assistance from Japan, other donor countries, 
and international aid institutions. 
VI. OTHER ACTIVITIES 
Technical cooperation projects (JICA) 
 The Technical Cooperation Project involves providing 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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