Introduction of Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA)The Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), which is a non-profit, non-governmental and largest
intellectual property rights (IPRs) users’ organization in the world, was founded as “Choyo-kai” in 1938 withindividual patent staffs from ten electrical appliances companies. Since then, it has been promoting rational,
fair and effective protection of IPR for over seventy years.
As shown in Fig. 1, the name of the Association waschanged three times, and in 1994 to the present name
“JIPA” with expanded its activities and the uplift in IPRawareness as trigger. Also, in 2000 the Association
has opened to any public or private entity related toIPR, domestic and overseas, to become its AssociateMember.

HistoryFig. 1

1938.9.9“Choyokai” starts (10 electricityCompanies)
1956.9.1 Changed name to “Industrial Property
Association for Business”
1959.1.1
Changed name to “Japan PatentAssociation”
1994.5.27 Changed name to “Japan IntellectualProperty Association”
2000.1.27 Revision of JIPA’s Charter (Rules ofAdmission)

Number of its Member has been increasing as shownin Fig.2. The current total number of its Member is1,226(twelve hundreds and twenty six), 906 Regular
Members and 320 Associate Members as of April 1,2012.

Transition of MembershipFig.2

1000
Regular Member
Associate Member

800

867

816

767

905

902

898

877

906

609

600

508

400

315

200

109
1030

1938

'50

145

97

192

221

266

288

299

320

2011

2012

0'60

'70

'80

'90

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Recently, the new business enterprises such as bank, Internet provider and amusement planners havebecome its Regular Members.
JIPA’’s main activities are shown in Fig. 3.
First, its twenty Expert Committees composed ofover seven hundreds committee members fromits Regular Members are studying andresearching various aspects of IPR. The resultsfrom these committees are not only fed-back to
the Members but also offered on numerous
occasions as its opinions and requests to outsidecommunities, domestic and overseas, such as
JPO, USPTO, EPO and WIPO. Also, JIPA
establishes eight Project Teams on Policy
Strategy to provide timely various organizations
with its position paper. Fig. 4 shows some of therecent offers of its opinions. Also, JIPA has sent
representatives and observers to various
international conferences in order to serveinternationally to improve systems for protectionand enforcement of IP. Since year of 2001, JIPA
has offered more positively and actively its
opinions to them as a users’ organization than
before, while cooperating with the other private

Main Activities

Fig.3

１．7 Project Teams on Policy Strategy
２．Standing Committee Activities(20 Committees, 755 mrmbers - ’12･Professional Studies and Researches → Feed-back toJIPA Members.
･Offering JIPA’s opinions and suggestions to outsidecommunities.
３．Training Activities(78 Regular courses & 25 Extraordinary courses, 2Overseas courses, 3 Special courses
14,583 Trainees - ”11)
･IP Education / Training to employees of JIPA Members.
４．Publication･Monthly Bulletin (Circulation 3,690), Research & Study
Reports
５．Others･Communication/Coordination with various IP related
Institutions and Organizations.

1organizations in the world having the same
opinion, if necessary.

Offer of Opinions

Secondly, JIPA regularly holds a wide and uniquecurriculum of seminars and workshops, which are plannedand operated by its Committee on Training Planning,
Training & Education Staffs and the Training Group of its
Secretariat.
Lawyers, patent attorneys, university
professors, officials of the JPO, IP specialist from its
Member and other authorities representing disciplines areinvited to give lectures. The number of attendants is14,583 in 2011, as shown in Fig. 5. In addition to thesecourses, JIPA has sent the training group to Europe, theU.S. and Asian countries since 1983 to foster a newgeneration of experts who have up-to-date knowledge ofIP in this age of globalization, who can take full advantageof such knowledge. Further, for the same purposes, JIPA
has a seminar held for certain duration of time in one
overseas location, where a number of local experts givelectures.

Fig.4◆ Regulations on AIA – USPTO◆ Anti-Counterfeit in China – State Economic &Trade Committee◆ Research and Bolar Exeptions – UK IPO◆ Patent Law - KIPO
◆ Patent Law – IPOS
◆ Utility Model – India IPO◆ JPO System – JPO◆ Extention of Patent Term – JPO◆ IP Strategic Program 2012 – Cabinet Office◆ Employee’s Invention – METI etc.
◆ Standards of Trademark Examination - JPO◆ Others - Japan Ministry of Economic, Trade andIndustry, Japan Culture Agency, etc.

17,658Transition of Trainees' Number
17,125 18,018

20,00015,063 15,931

15,000

Fig.5
14,458 14583

10,076 10,805

10,000
3,919

4,962

6,097

5,0000

1975

'80

'85

'90

'95

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2011

These courses enjoy the reputations for being one of the most highly respected and well attended IP training
courses in the world with its quality and wide selection of subjects.
Thirdly, JIPA publishes approximately a circulation of 3,690 of a monthly bulletin, entitled “CHIZA KANRI – IPManagement”, which provides useful information on IP management for business administration, andpresents research papers and dissertations. Studies resulting from its Expert Committees’ activities are edited
separately and published as appropriate for distribution among its Members. Please note that these JIPA
publications are principally restricted to its Members only.
Lastly, JIPA has communicated and cooperated
with various IP related institutions and organizationsin the world, as shown in Fig. 6. In 2011, JIPA willhold the Trilateral Industry Meetings with the EU &USA private organizations in the U.S.A. Also, JIPA
has sent the representatives to the internationalmeetings such as WIPO/PCT Reform Meeting.
Further, JIPA has sent lecturers to various IPseminars provided from time to time to help animate
awareness in IP and promote protection of IP.
Please glance over the following web site of
the Association or contact soumu@jipa.or.jp inorder to get more information about theAssociation.
http://www.jipa.or.jp/english/index.html

Interchange with IP related Institutions andOrganizations
1. Counterpart
・Patent Offices in various Countries and Economies
・International Organizations such as WIPO
・IP related NGO’s
2. Manners of Interchange
・Regular Sessions for Exchange of Views (Typically withJPO)・Visits by Delegations, Study Missions, Training Groups
・Participation in Conferences, Meetings, Symposia
3. Recent Examples of Interchange
Delegations
・Delegation to EU – May 08 and May ‘12・Delegation to Asian Countries – Oct. Nov. 08 and Nov.
& Jan.‘12・Delegation to UAE – Nov. 08・Mini-delegation to Korea － Nov. 10Fig.62