Lecture on IP Law

1. Introduction to IP Law
November 2020
Masabumi Suzuki
Nagoya University

IP IN ASIA AND JAPANAsia and Japan in IP Landscape

Source: WIPO IP Facts and Figures 2019, p.9

Asia and Japan in IP Landscape

Source: WIPO World IP Indicator 2018, p.26

Asia and Japan in IP Landscape

Source: WIPO World IP Indicator 2018, p.26

Asia and Japan in IP Landscape

Source: WIPO IP Facts and Figures 2019, p.16

Asia and Japan in IP Landscape

Source: WIPO World IP Indicator 2018, p.91

Asia and Japan in IP Landscape• World Intellectual Property Report 2019: TheGeography of Innovation: Local Hotspots,
Global Networks• https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo_pub_944_2019.pdf

8DEVELOPMENT OF
JAPANESE IP LAW

9Short history of Japan• ～19 C. : Feudal Era• 1867 (or 68) : Meiji Restoration (beginning ofmodernization)• 1884-5: First Trademark Law and Patent Law• 1899: Joined the Paris and Berne Conventions• 1945: End of the World War II• 2002: Introduction of Policy for “IP-basedNation”

Characteristics of Japanese law• Based on civil law system (strong influencefrom Germany and France)• Growing influence from American law• Civil remedies
1) injunctions: basically, not available for general
torts, while almost automatically granted for
IP infringement2) damages: awarded for intentional or negligent
tortious acts based on the general tort law(Art.709, Civil Code)11

Civil remedies for patent
infringement
injunction

JapanUS

based on IP law

granted as equitable remedy

automatically granted

eBay requirements
ongoing royalties available
when injunction is denied

damagesawarded for intentional ornegligent acts
no enhanced damages nor
disgorgement of infringer’sprofitsstrict liability
treble damages for willful
infringement
disgorgement available fordesign patents

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Court system• the Supreme Court of Japan• the IP High Court (in the Tokyo High Court) =specialized court• District Courts- The Tokyo and Osaka District Courts have exclusive
jurisdiction for civil cases regarding patents andother technology-related IPs.

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Structure of IP law (the Japanese model)

IP Basic Act
Industrial Property laws
supervised by the Patent Office

Patent Act

Utility ModelAct

Copyright Act
TrademarkAct

Design Act

14Others

Unfair Competition
Prevention Act
Plant Variety Actet al.

History of Japanese IP law• 1871(Meiji 4) the first Patent Act- Abolished soon, but re-introduced in 1885.
• the first Copyright Act followed in 1875, and the firstTrademark Act in 1884.
• IP system was recognized as an important tool to thepromotion of industry, and as one of the requirements forbecoming a “modern country”.
- The first head of the Patent Office (1884～) was Mr. Korekiyo
Takahashi (高橋是清) who later became the Prime Minister(1921-22).
• 1899 Accession to the Paris and the Berne Conventions• 1959 Fundamental revision of Patent Act and other IP acts• 1970 Fundamental revision of Copyright Act• 2002 Launch of the “IP-based Nation”
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Korekiyo TAKAHASHI (1854-1936)• 1867-1868 lived in US• 1884- Commissioner of theJPO• 1911- Governor, Bank ofJapan• 1913- Minister of Finance• 1921- Prime Minister• 1927- Minister of Finance16

Recent reforms• New policy to strengthen IP protection- the “IP Strategy”（知的財産戦略） for establishing an“IP-based nation”（知的財産立国） (since 2002)• Special emphasis on IP enforcement- speed-up of examination and dispute resolution
e.g., permission of the defense of invalidity in patentinfringement litigation, establishment of the IP High Court(2005)- Strengthening of civil remedies, criminal sanctions
and border measures17

Factors behind the recent reforms• Global competition
IP = source of “competitiveness”• Domestic economic situation and change inindustrial structure• International legal environment- FTAs/EPAs (Economic Partnership Agreements)
e.g., TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Agreement
18International environment•1899 Accession to the Paris and the Berne
Conventions•1945 End of WWII
•1995 WTO/TRIPS Agreement came into force•2002 Japan-Singapore EPA (EconomicPartnership Agreement)•2016 TPP Agreement•2018 CP TPP (TPP-11) *Comprehensive and Progressive
Agreement for TPP
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International environment

https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/fta/index.html
20International environment• TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Agreement- Agreed by twelve countries (Japan, US,Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, Vietnam).
- The US withdrew from the agreement, andthe other 11 countries agreed on and signed“CPTPP (TPP 11).”- It contains detailed provisions for stronger
protection of IP.
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International environment• RCEP: Japan, China, South Korea, ASEAN,India, Australia, New Zealandhttps://asean.org/?static_post=rcep-regional-comprehensive-economic-partnership

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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF IP LAW

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IP and property

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出典：http://www.i-turn.jp/oominekougen-nanairo-ookaede-2009-autumn.html

Civil Code• Article 85 The term “Things” as used in thisCode shall mean tangible thing. (この法律において「物」とは、有体物をいう。）• Article 206 An owner (=holder of propertyright) has the rights to freely use, obtain profit
from and dispose of the Thing owned, subject
to the restrictions prescribed by laws andregulations. (所有者は、法令の制限内において、自由にその所有物の使用、収益及び処分をする権利を有する。)
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IP and property• Property rights under the Civil Code extend
only to the aspect of things as tangible things,• while IP rights such as copyrights extend to
the aspect of things as intangible things.
• When IP rights expire, their subject matterthat are intangible things come into the publicdomain and every person may use them.
JP Supreme Court, 20 January 1984
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Rationale of IP Rights• Deontological rationale of IP rights➢ IP rights as a natural right• Consequential rationale of IP rights➢ IP rights as an incentive for creative
activities
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