SONODA & KOBAYASHI Japan IP News Bulletin

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AUGUST 2018

NEWS ABOUT Sonoda & Kobayashi

Webinar – “Utility Models : an overview of requirements, procedures and tactical use in Europe
and in Japan” - June 29, 2018
In collaboration with the EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk and Murgitroyd’s Munich
Office, we held a Webinar on Utility Models in Europe and in Japan. Once again, it was a great
success and we thank our partners for their collaboration. Please, do not hesitate to click on thelink to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. New Webinars are coming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4VYFDrtoTc&t=3s

Mock International Arbitration – Toward Early Dispute Resolution of Standard Essential Patents(SEPs) in the 5G Era – University of Tokyo - June 29, 2018
Sonoda & Kobayashi attended a Mock International Arbitration in Tokyo on June 29, hosted by theJapan Patent Office. With participation from leading experts from around the world, the program
demonstrated the potential for resolving disputes regarding SEPs in the Fifth-Generation Mobile
Communications System (5G) Era. For more information on the event, please click on thefollowing link.

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http://www.mock-ip-int-arbitration.go.jp/en/index.html

Global IP Attorneys.com - July, 2018
We are pleased to announce that Sonoda & Kobayashi is now on the Global IP Attorneys website,“the largest online company guide for IP attorneys”. You will find us among other IP law firms
from around the world. Do not hesitate to have a look!
https://www.globalipattorneys.com/companies/asia/japan/sonoda-and-kobayashi-intellectualproperty-law/tokyo

Client Satisfaction Survey - July 2018
As you may know, we sent a Client Satisfaction Survey to our valued clients and we thank theparticipants for taking the time to complete it. We are also happy to announce that we selected awinner to our lottery. Congratulations! For those who missed out and would like the opportunity to
win some sweet Japanese gifts, we have re-sent the Survey out, so please do not hesitate tocomplete it.

Sonoda & Kobayashi in Asia Law Business Law Journal - July, 2018
It is important to Sonoda & Kobayashi to be present on quality websites dedicated to Intellectual
Property, to help future potential clients to find us easily. Since July, 2018, you can find our firm on
the Asia Business Law Directory Website.
https://www.vantageasia.com/asia-business-law-journal/directory/japan/sonoda-kobayashi/

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Page 3 of 6Dr. Sonoda was interviewed by the Asia Business Law Journal - July, 2018
Dr. Sonoda “sees standards essential patents (SEPs) as a red-button issue for IP firms”.
Please click on the link to read the entire interview.
https://www.vantageasia.com/trapped-in-tradition/

LATEST IP NEWS IN JAPANClarivate Analytics - Top 100 Global Innovators Report 2017 - July 2018
Clarivate Anatylics recently published a report entitled “TOP 100 Global Innovators” wherein Japanis ranked the most innovative country in the world before the USA #2. With respect to Europe,
France is ranked the most innovative country in the area.
https://clarivate.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Clarivate-Analytics-2017-Top-100-GlobalInnovators.pdf

Enhancement of Cooperation in the field of AI between the JPO and the SIPO - July 11, 2018
The JPO and the SIPO have given their consent to enhance cooperation in various aspects of patentand trademark administration, including the use of AI.
http://www.jpo.go.jp/shoukai_e/soshiki_e/photo_gallery2018070901.html

Release of Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2018 - June 28, 2018
The Japan Patent Office released its new Annual Report on June 28, 2018. Please click on thefollowing link for further information.
http://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2018/0628_004.html

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IPO launches IP Acceleration Program for startups - July 2, 2018
The JPO launched a program entitled ‘’IP Acceleration program for Startups’’ (IPAS) which aims toencourage startups to expand their business through Intellectual Property tools.
http//www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2018/0702_002.html

The world’s 5 largest IP offices name artificial intelligence a top strategic priority and continue todevelop the Global Dossier - June 15, 2018
The annual IP5 Heads Meeting was held this June in New Orleans. Besides continued efforts toimprove the working of, and access to, the Global Dossier, the IP5 heads have recognized theimpact of Artificial Intelligence on the patent system as being one of the top strategic priorities forthem as a group.
http://www.ip-watch.org/2018/06/15/worlds-5-largest-ip-offices-name-artificial-intelligence-topstrategic-priority/

Twitter Retweet function caused moral rights infringement in Japan - June 30, 2018
The Japanese Intellectual Property High Court ruled that tweeting a photo without the permissionof the photographer is considered to represent a copyright infringement. In addition, the IP High
Court judges declared that, in this case, the process of the Twitter Retweet function caused moral
rights infringement.
http://japanip.blogspot.com/2018/06/twitter-retweet-function-caused-moral.html

Japan to consider expanding design protection - June 23, 2018
From the perspective of increasing Japanese companies’ competitiveness, Japan has suggested toamend its design law in order to cover a larger design spectrum. As development of technologies
and design protection are closely intertwined, the Japanese government raised the idea ofexpanding the protection of designs to both projection designs and spatial designs. Further
considerations include extending the duration of design rights and allowing a single design
application filing for more than one design.
http://japanip.blogspot.com/2018/06/japan-to-consider-expanding-design.html

Women's participation creates high-value patents - July 27, 2018
The Development Bank of Japan published a report on July 16th 2018, showing that companieswould create higher economic value patents if both male and female inventors participated. The
study showed that the economic value of a patent which was jointly invented by male and female
inventors is 1.5 times the value of a patent which was invented by a single male inventor.
Additionally, the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry displays in a report thatcompanies which have a higher percentage of female researchers file more patent applications
from a greater variety of fields.
Female participation in the Japanese labor force not only alleviates the aging population problem,
but also appears to strengthen economic growth by promoting innovations both quantitatively andqualitatively.
https://www.dbj.jp/en/pdf/investigate/etc/pdf/book1604_01.pdf

Japan's Giant Telecom Provider Files for Patent to Use Blockchain for Contracts Storage - July 24,

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Page 5 of 62018
A recent Nippon Telegraph and Telephone’s (NTT) patent application suggests that the Japanese
Telecommunication company may seek to create new types of contract agreements relying on
blockchain technology. This new system is believed to simplify contract agreements by using
encryption and information decentralization. NTT’s idea is to use a blockchain as evidence of acontract made along a plurality of parties. The influence of blockchain is increasing in Intellectual
Property law with major companies acquiring patents for innovations relying on this system, such
as Master Card and Boeing among many others.
https://bitrazzi.com/japans-giant-telecom-provider-files-for-patent-to-use-blockchain-forcontracts-storage/

Asia's first patent arbitration hub to open in Tokyo and JPO - Intellectual Property Arbitration
Portal Site - June 28 and July 9, 2018
Asia’s first International Intellectual Property specialized Arbitration body is set to open in Tokyo
next month. The International Arbitration Center in Tokyo (“IACT”) is to be distinguished fromthe already existing Japan IP Arbitration Center. The IACT will incorporate multiple local andforeign arbitrators, including a former US chief judge of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
and a University of Tokyo professor. Ambitiously, it is anticipated that intellectual property
disagreements will be solved within one year. The Japanese government hopes that the IACT will
be capable of competing with thriving arbitral centers such as Hong Kong and Singapore. The IACTwill enable IP related disputes between non-Japanese companies to be heard, if all parties agree.
Furthermore, even though patents are registered separately in different countries, Tokyo’s arbitralawards will be binding across all New York Convention signatories’ countries.
The JPO has created a portal site for Intellectual Property Arbitration which will continue to beupdated as matters progress.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-Trends/Asia-s-first-patent-arbitration-hub-to-open-inTokyo
http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/hiroba_e/chizai_chusai_portal_e.htm

Our Firm
SONODA & KOBAYASHI, an intellectual property law firm, offers dependable legal services for intellectual property
in Japan. Our multinational team of 80 experts in technology, law, languages and international communication hasserved companies from around the world and has gained a reputation for thoroughness and reliability. Our highstandards, expertise and team work have defined us since the founding of our firm in 1998.
Visit Us
Sonoda & Kobayashi is located in Shinjuku, one of the main business districts in Tokyo. We welcome visitors and lookforward to seeing you at our office.

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