Intellectual Property

Panasonic strives to appropriately acquire, protect, and utilize
technologies, know-how, designs, brands, and other achievements
obtained through R&D and other business activities as intellectualproperty.

PolicyIf the Group’s intellectual property is not appropriately protected andResponsible Executive andFrameworksustainable innovation and potentially leading to quality problems,Major Initiatives
In-House Educationand External Consumer
Awareness-Raising
Consultation & Whistleblowing
Evaluations

utilized, related counterfeit or infringing products may appear, hinderingresources to criminal organizations, and other issues.
In addition, if we infringe on the intellectual property of a third party,
there is a risk of causing loss to the third party and inconvenience to theGroup’s direct and indirect customers due to changes in the Group’s
product or service specifications, interruptions in supply, or other
unforeseen concerns.
By implementing our group’s intellectual property in various ways,
such as commercialization in our group and co-creation with othercompanies as well as striving to respect the intellectual property ofthird parties in our group’s business activities, Panasonic Group aims
to achieve business growth in our group and achieve solutions to social
issues.

PolicyBased on the spirit of “IP (intellectual property) before business” since
its founding, Panasonic Group has been promoting an intellectualproperty policy aimed at ensuring the superiority and safety of its
business now and in the future by proposing IP-based strategies for its
business; acquiring, protecting, and utilizing global intellectual property;
and preventing and resolving disputes related to intellectual property.
Furthermore, in recent years, we have taken a view to helping addresssocial issues using IP, which has become one of our most important
motivations in our IP efforts.
To consistently achieve these goals, the Group has established its“Basic Intellectual Property Regulations” that apply to Groupwide. We
are working to appropriately pursue our intellectual property policy andestablish a foundation for our initiatives. In addition, we respect theintellectual property of our suppliers, business partners, and other thirdparties and do our best not to infringe on them. That is also a stipulationSustainability Data Book 2023 121

Intellectual Property

Policyin the “Panasonic Group Compliance Code of Conduct,” and we provide regular education to

The Panasonic Group also has a reward system for inventors designed to increase theirensure that all employees comply with it.

motivation and help invigorate their inventions and creative endeavors, and we operate thisResponsible Executive and Framework

example, the standard for reward is decided through agreements with employees and shared

The Group Chief Technology Officer is the executive officer responsible for intellectual property

with them, and we also have a system in place to solicit feedback from inventors about thefor the Group (as of August 2023). The Intellectual Property Department at the Group’s holding

reward system.

company, Panasonic Holdings, and the Intellectual Property Center at Panasonic Operational▪Respect for Intellectual Property of Third Parties

Responsible Executive andFramework

Excellence Co., Ltd., which was established as a firm to house our advanced specialist human

Major Initiatives

intellectual property strategies. We have also created an intellectual property division within

In-House Educationand External Consumer
Awareness-Raising
Consultation & WhistleblowingEvaluations

resources in a wide variety of fields, are in charge of establishing and promoting the Group’s
each Operating Company, and each Operating Company establishes and promotes intellectual
property strategy within that Operating Company. Furthermore, we use trust among Persons

system in a just and fair manner based on the laws and regulations of each country. For

Our Groupwide internal rules stipulate how to respond when a third party contacts us with asuspicion of intellectual property rights infringement and how to estimate losses in the event ofsuch infringement. The internal rules of each Operating company also stipulate how to conduct
investigations, report discovered risks, and follow other processes to prevent infringement ofBelonging to Same Group of Companies as defined in Article 51 of the Trust Business Act tothird-party intellectual property rights.

promote a wide array of intellectual property work meant to integrate and commercialize the▪Contributions to Building Relationships for Joint Innovation

work related to intellectual property being done within the Group at Panasonic IP Management,
Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary.

The Panasonic Group aims to contribute to solutions to the social issues through our businessactivities, and in our intellectual property activities as well, it is crucial that we contribute to

Major Initiatives

solutions to social issues by building friendly relationships for joint innovation with our customers
and different types of other partners we work with, and we are promoting new intellectual▪Acquiring Intellectual Property Rights and Reward Systemproperty strategies in the interest of achieving that aim. In the field of energy management andPanasonic Group has been building up a global portfolio of intellectual property in line with ourmaterials, the Group works to build optimal relationships for joint innovation through approaches

IP strategy, which in turn is based on our business strategies and research and developmentthat combine a variety of intellectual property activities, including a search for partner companiesstrategies. The following table shows the fiscal 2023’s R&D expenses; the number of newwith the use of intellectual property information, the creation of an intellectual property portfolio

applications for patents, utility models, or design rights made by Panasonic Group in fiscal 2023;that is mindful of how it will be used by the joint innovation partner, and the establishment ofand the number of patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks held by the Group as ofdetailed relationships for joint innovation with contracts.

March 2023.
Fiscal 2023 R&D expenses
Fiscal 2023 Number ofapplications

As of March 2023 Numberof rights held

Moreover, we believe that addressing social issues requires cooperation from diverse yet
469,800 million JPY (the ratio of R&D expenses to sales: 5.6%)
Number of applications for patents, utility models, anddesigns: roughly15,000(including roughly 9,200 outside Japan)
Number of patents, utility models, and designs held:
Total roughly 99,000(including roughly 56,000 outside Japan)
Number of trademarks held: Total roughly 15,000(including roughly 11,000 outside Japan)

connected people, goods, and services, so we are working on open innovation rooted inintangible assets. For instance, by transferring our unused patents related to quick-charging
technology to an overseas start-up through an outside partner, we are collaborating andsupporting that start-up’s business of bringing light to areas without electricity.

▪Participation in International Initiatives
WIPO GREEN, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) supports
global-scale approaches against climate change through connecting key stakeholders whenit comes to environmentally-conscious innovations using its database and networks. The
Panasonic Group agrees with this mission and has registered environmentally-conscious
underwater plasma technologies, artificial photosynthesis technologies, and gas sensor
technologies.

Sustainability Data Book 2023 122

Intellectual Property

PolicyResponsible Executive andFramework
Major Initiatives
In-House Educationand External Consumer
Awareness-Raising
Consultation & Whistleblowing
Evaluations

In August 2022, we became the first Japanese company to join the Low Carbon Patent Pledge

e-Learning on copyright for employees in Japan and overseas in 12 languages, due to, for(LCPP), whereby patents related to artificial photosynthesis technology are available for free toexample, the increasing importance of software in business in recent years. In addition, eachany individual or organization under the prescribed conditions stipulated by the LCPP.

Operating Company also provides training and education on intellectual property to meet their

WEB The Low Carbon Patent Pledge

specific business needs. In addition, for employees engaged in intellectual property operations,

https://lowcarbonpatentpledge.org/the-pledge/

we provide a wide range of training and education with a view to achieving business success,▪Anti-counterfeit activities

including training on project management and training to improve IP-related expertise.

Unauthorized use of brands, designs, and other intellectual property have a negative impact

example is giving lectures at various seminars organized by the Japan Patent Office for overseas

not only on companies (brand owners) but also on society. Counterfeit products undermine agovernmental authorities and Customs officials in various countries. We also dispatch lecturers

We also help raise awareness of intellectual property issues outside the Company. One suchcompany’s reputation, which damages its credibility in the eye of its customers. The counterfeit

to Japanese junior high and high school students to teach the importance of intellectual

products lead to defective quality concerns, and they can cause accidents and injuries to ourproperty. In addition, to address the issue caused by counterfeited products, we manufacture

customers. Therefore, imitations hinder the creation of a healthy society, such as through:the consumer awareness videos and introduce them at our website and the above-mentioned• Economic losses: decreasing tax revenues, less business incentives to develop new products

lectures.

and innovation.
• Security issues: potential sources of funds for criminal/ terrorist organizations, increasing
threats to national security.
• Environmental problems: disposal of seized counterfeit goods
Thus, aiming to eliminate counterfeit goods should be considered a Corporate Social
Responsibility. Our anti-counterfeit policies aim to solve the social issues caused by counterfeit
products and protect our customers and their intellectual property, including brands. In 2019,
measures against counterfeit products were added to the Japanese government’s SDGs
Action Plan, thanks in part to advocacy from the Panasonic Group. At present, we are working
in partnership with the Japanese government, other companies, and the governments ofWEB Panasonic’s efforts to raise awareness about eliminating counterfeit goods
https://holdings.panasonic/global/corporate/sustainability/sustainability-files/case13.html

Consultation & Whistleblowing
All Group employees, business partners, and their employees can seek consultation and reportany intellectual property-related risks or problems they see or hear about through the global
hotline Panasonic has set up. For more details, see the “Whistleblowing System” in the “BusinessEthics” chapter (on page 138).

Evaluations

other countries at the International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF), an industry

Panasonic Group has been recognized as a Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovator 2023 chosen byorganization that aims to resolve the counterfeit issue, to take action based on the idea that

London-based Clarivate. The award that Panasonic Group received is given to companies thateliminating counterfeit products will contribute to achieving SDGs. Recent trends show a rapid

are leaders in global business because they are successful in protecting and commercializing

increase in the number of counterfeit goods sold online, in addition to those sold in actual

their unique inventions and ideas through intellectual property rights. Of the 100 companiesmarkets. Online sales make selling counterfeit products easier globally than conventional

honored on the 2023 list, 38 were from Japan. Panasonic Group has been on this list since its

retail methods— transactions are made easily and carried out before the buyer ever sees theinception, 2023 being our 12th consecutive year. The Panasonic brands were also honored in

actual product, meaning that there is an increasing risk that consumers could purchase them

Clarivate’s Top 100 Best Protected Global Brands (in 2021), a testament to the fact that theby mistake. Panasonic Group believes that it is more critical than ever that rights holders work

Group properly protects its brand. Furthermore, the Panasonic GREEN IMPACT brands weretogether with consumers to eliminate counterfeit goods and work aiming to create a better world.

also honored in Clarivate’s Top 100 New Brands in 2023 as new brands that have surged into

In-House Education and External Consumer Awareness-Raisingprotection on a global scale.

the public sphere since 2021 and demonstrated an exceptional ability to bring value, impact, andPanasonic Group conducts various training and education programs for employees to ensure
they thoroughly implement Panasonic’s policy on intellectual property. Alongside the abovementioned employee education on respecting third-party intellectual property, we provide

Sustainability Data Book 2023 123