News Release
March 18, 2008
Test Agency Assigned by Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare
Association of Intellectual Property Education

To The Editor

The Association of Intellectual Property Education starts
ｔhe World's First, Globalized "Intellectual Property Management Skills Test"
Certified by the Government from July
­ Grade 3 addresses social intellectual property issues
Improves International Intellectual Property Mind, through the WIPO ­The Association of Intellectual Property Education (President: Yuji Tanahashi, Minato­Ku, Tokyo)
has been nominated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as the test agency to develop
examination content for the new national "Intellectual Property Management Skills Test" tocommence from July 2008. The announcement was made on 18 March.

International intellectual property management and practical strategic skill in the globalage
At present, in the intellectual property field, national examinations such as the "Patent Attorney
Examination" are mainly concerned with the practice, knowledge and skills of dealing with filing
applications required to operate as an agent in the home country's patent office. In the Japanese
domestic economy ­ mainly manufacturing, such as consumer­electronics and automobile
manufacture ­ the domestic market has already become saturated whereas the sales rate in
dforeign countries has increased. Accordingly, the global economy becomes more significant, andthe practical skills for global intellectual management and strategy are required more than ever toimprove the relative international position of Japanese companies in the future. However, any
suitable national examinations were not available on a global basis.
Against this background, the newly initiated "Intellectual Property Management Skills Test"
provides a world's first national examination for typical Japanese in a highly technical, competitive
field, to support the establishment of global intellectual property rights and business expansion forenterprises. Therefore, the core purpose of this examination relates not only to the procedures
and intellectual property rights of the Japanese Patent Office, but also to the United States, Europe,
China, Korea India, etc. and is to evaluate intellectual property management, practical knowledge
for strategy and know­how for associated enforcement in crucial markets.

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Toward the "Intellectual Property­Based Nation", the examination committee consists ofrelevant Ministries and Associations in a cross­sectional manner
Since the declaration of the "Intellectual Property­Based Nation" by the Koizumi Administrationin 2002, Japan has operated various approaches to turn its aspirations for the development ofintellectual property expertise into reality. This includes human resource development through thesetting up of an Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters, the new enforcement of the"Intellectual Property Basic Act", and the amendment of related laws and regulations such as
Patent Law, Copyright Law, and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
Recognizing the complication of assignments across ministries and agencies that have existedin the past in the field of intellectual property, the new examination builds a coalition ofcross­sectional cooperative structures to this area. The examination board participates in thecrossover traditional government agencies, such as the Japan Patent Office, the Ministry of theEconomy, Trade and Industry (Office of Intellectual Property Policy), the Agency for Cultural Affairs(Copyright Section) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Seeds and Seedlings
Division). In addition, the board plays an active role in the traditional national qualification bodies,notably the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association.
The examination progresses from "Grade 1" required advanced practical ability to "Grade3" to expand the human resource capacity within intellectual property
It divides into "Exam in Academic Subjects" and "Practical Exam", which cover required basic
knowledge and practical knowledge respectively. Grade 1 evaluates advanced international
intellectual property management and practical strategic ability, in particular. There is an oral
examination for the practical element. It is prohibited to take away exam papers, exceptionally.
This purpose of the examination is to refine and evaluate practical skills. However, Grade 3targets full members of the society and students. The leaking of classified business informationand know­how, the sale of fake brand­name products and the sale of pirated software in daily life
are social issues. Therefore, this association attaches importance to the development ofintellectual property through the Grade 3 examination to raise awareness of intellectual property toaddress these issues.
Human resource development in intellectual property to promote Japan to the world stage ­Compliance with intellectual property education program in the United Nations Agency for
Grade 3Additionally, the content and level of Grade 3 is compliant with the Universal Intellectual
Property Education Program developed by the UNs’ World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO). From the aspect of international contributions to develop the real global economy throughthe improvement of intellectual property mind internationally, we have appealed to WIPO to offer
all Grade 3 copyrights as a voluntary conveyance for human resource development in foreigncountries.
We have been concerned to promote the understanding of the intellectual property field throughthe "Intellectual Property Test" (a total of more than 40,000 have taken part in exams from March2004). Through the new "Intellectual Property Management Skills Test", we increase our efforts, byway of precise exam management and PR activity, as the nominated institution to contribute to thenational promotion of human resource development for intellectual property.
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<Summary>
1) What is the Intellectual Property Management Skills Test?
The "Intellectual Property Management Skills Test" (hereinafter "IPMST") is a test related to theprofession of "Intellectual Property Management", which is one of the skills test systems for thenational examination institution. The profession of "Intellectual Property Management" is based on
operational work within companies and associations. Its aims are the creation, protection andutilization of intellectual property of inventions, utility models, designs, trademarks, trade secrets,and copyrighted work. In particular, this profession is of value in creative business, patent mappingand strategic planning for applications, and procedural management in its protection sections;
license strategic planning in its utilization sections; and trade secret management in themanagement of intellectual property. IPMST is an examination to assess the degree of these skills
and the related knowledge. The coverage and the level of IPMST is compliant with "IntellectualProperty Skill Standard" of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
("Intellectual Property Skill Standard" URL: http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/ipss/index.html)
The Skills Test is a national examination system to determine and officially recognize a working
person's skill according to certain standards. It is operated by promoting the occupational
knowledge, skills and professionalism of workers. Furthermore, it contributes to the developmentof industry based on the Human Resources Development Promotion Law (governed by theMinistry for Health, Labour and Welfare). The Skills Test has a significant role in increasing skills
and learning motivation, promoting employment stability and smoothing reemployment, andimproving the wider recognition afforded to people working in the intellectual property field.
2) Categories/Styles/Number of Questions for IPMST
Category

Test StyleNo.

Time Periodof Questions(min.)

Grade 1 (Academic Subject)
Grade 1 (Skill Test)

Paper Test (Answer Sheet )45100

Oral Exam

5Approx. 20

Grade 2 (Academic Subject)
Grade 2 (Skill Test)
Grade 3 (Academic Subject)

Paper Test (Answer Sheet )4060

Paper Test (Answer Sheet )4060

Paper Test (Answer Sheet )3045

Grade 3 (Skill Test)

Paper Test (Answer Sheet )3045­ About the Association of Intellectual Property Education ­The aim of the Association of Intellectual Property Education is to spread knowledge and education
within the intellectual property field through the skills test system, and simultaneously to promote thequalities and abilities of the human resources working in this field. It also makes a significant
contribution to the goals of an Intellectual Property­Based Nation in our country. As specificachievements, we became the nominated provider of the private examination "The Examination ofProficiency in Intellectual Property" (2004­March, 2008) which has had 40,000 examinees to date. The
Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare appointed us as the test agency for the new national
examination "Intellectual Property Management Skills Test" on February 29, 2008.

[Inquiry for this Release] Association of Intellectual Property Education,e­mail: support@ip­edu.org (Tomoyuki Kanai, person in charge)
phone: +81­3­3438­2147 (Japanese language only) facsimile: +81­3­3438­2148Intellectual Property Management Skills Test URL: http://www.kentei­info­ip­edu.org/3