Participation of foreign experts in the process of formulating technical standard. The US fears dividends of government owned shares in the privatized NTT will be used to strengthen international competitiveness of Japan's high technology industries. Japan has too broad definition of basic technologies and it includes applied commercial technologies. Patents Processing of patent applications takes too long in Japan. Examination of foreign applications are deliberately delayed.
Japanese firms can imitate the inventions before the patents can be registered.
It is a problem that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry is promoting the legislation of a separate law from the Copyrights Act in relation to the protection of rights on computer programs. Foreign data should definitely be accepted in relation to nuclear magnetic response and other diagnosis equipment. Tender procedures by certain ministries and agencies excludes foreign firms. According to policies of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, foreign lawyers cannot provide services relating to Japanese laws to Japanese clients. The policies bar foreigners from partnership with Japanese law offices.