Yoshitoshi Tanaka

Collaboration between IP department and other departments promote IP utilisation

In many countries, intellectual property rights have been given emphasis for the past 20–30 years. Traditionally, IP personnel in enterprises have been involved in practical jobs such as filing patent/trademark/design applications, and making responses to the examiners of IP organisation of government and maintaining registration of IPR, in accordance with existing IP laws and its regulations. However the recent increase in the strategic value of intellectual property rights and wider scope of IP-related activities has necessitated greater inter-departmental collaboration within the company. In this study, we investigated the collaboration between the IP department and other units within the same company. We conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the level of integration of IP department with other departments. Based on the results of questionnaires, we propose greater collaboration with other departments, and suggest the use of benchmarking in order to improve collaboration and change of IP strategies for business growth.

Why Japan boasts of the most patent applications in the world

Japan is the second largest recipient of patent filing in the world. This paper will investigate the reason why there are more residential patent applications in Japan than in the USA or Europe. We focused on the number of patent applications which did not request examination (non-request examination). We created multiple regression expression on the number of residential patent applications in Japan, and analysed the influence volume of some factors. The result of our study showed that the past number of patent applications with non-request for examination is the most important determinant in the number of residential patent applications in Japan. In addition, we also found that the differences in the industry field has almost no influence. The results of this will be helpful for Japanese enterprises to manage patent applications more efficiently.

Granted patents have the same level of inventive step? A new approach to distinguish patent protection based on the level of inventive step

According to recent surveys, there exist numerous patent applications in countries, such as Japan and the USA. Out of the total granted patents, there are so many patents which are not utilised on the product and its market. In this research, we analysed the different levels of inventive step or non-obviousness especially focusing on the difference of the ratio of office actions made by EPO and JPO between European enterprises and Japanese enterprises whether the office actions include the prior arts related to the said invention filed as a patent application. Under the current patent law, all patents granted have the same level of protection. Considering the basicness or improvementness of patents, it is proposed based on this research to distinguish the level of inventive step or non-obviousness together with the level of protection, which gives big impact on legal structures together with how the patent law should be amended in the future.

How can we predict the new products and services by using the trademark information and the patent information

The purpose of this research is to examine the new product prediction by using the trademark information and the patent information. We have focused on the adding goods and services, and the suggestive trademark. The additional goods and services are added by the applicant. The additional goods and services are expected to include the information about the type of the new product. The suggestive trademark is expected to contain the information about function and effect of the new product. We analyzed the additional goods and services, and the suggestive trademark. As a result, it was found that the information useful in new product predicted can be extracted from the trademark information. In addition, we examined how to search for patents related to new products by using the trademark information. The information extracted from the trademark information can be expected to be utilized as a keyword. Furthermore, designated goods and services were found to be converted to IPC information. Consequently, it was found that keyword and IPC search using the information extracted from the trademark information is possible. By using the trademark information and patent information, it is expected that it is possible to highly accurate new products prediction.

Can Sharp become the new liquid crystal panel IGZO leader? Observations from patent information analysis

This research focuses on the patent applications in the field of IGZO liquid crystal panel business. The ‘IGZO’ is a new challenging material for liquid crystal polymer (LCP). We compared and analysed patent information of nine Japanese applicants and one foreign applicant, by using bibliographic data, examination processes, registration data, overseas application, technical classification, citation data, etc., clarifying Sharp’s strength and weakness in the field of IGZO LCP business. We evaluated the strength and weakness together with patent strategy of companies, by using various approaches of patent information analysis. We reached the conclusion that Sharp has advantages against other competitors in the field of IGZO patent acquisitions because of its high registration ratio and few refusal notifications from Japan Patent Office.

How can we integrate IP strategy with corporate strategy? Combining IP strategy with management strategy making process

Intellectual property systems have been introduced and used in many countries as a global standard. However, its practical utilisation is still not yet mature because of the lack of IP strategy. Each enterprise has to define a unique IP strategy and be differentiated by other enterprises because the outside environment and internal resource are different. IP people have to have better understandings on strategy making process, which is fundamental to the management field. In addition, IP strategy should include IP expertise based on IP laws and its regulations. In this paper, strategy making process is introduced for IP personnel together with a new proposal of an IP strategy menu which will combine IP strategy with management strategy making, for further improvement of IP activities for the growth of enterprise.

Managing joint R&D: an investigation into joint patent applications in Japan, USA and Europe

This research focuses on joint patent applications which have been produced from joint Research & Development (R&D) collaborations. There has been limited past research in this area. This research compares and analyses joint patent applications from Japan, US and Europe, clarifying the differences and features for successful joint R&D through statistical analysis between these regions. The most important factors are the field of technology, the situation of cooperation, the difference of patent law and its practice in each region, the conditions of the joint R&D agreement, and the strategy for joint R&D. A conclusion will be drawn: The more advantageous the regulation of co- owned patents is, the greater the number of joint patent applications is filed in that countrys patent office.

Management of patent applications for digital camera considering the product life cycle

Digital cameras have a long product life cycle. Generally, sales decline once the product reaches maturity. However in Japan, the number of patent applications continues to grow even after the maturity stage. This indicates that there must be a number of useless patent applications. In Japan, companies tend to file patent applications without regard to the possible effects of the patent application on the companies productivity and profitability. In general, patent applications are filed to thwart competition and improve its bargaining power in cross licensing agreements. This study analyses the cumulative number of patent applications using correlation analysis and examination of the financial indicators of each company. More importantly, this paper makes a comparative study of the company’s management of patent applications with the product life cycle of digital cameras.

Empirical research on the characteristics of unutilised patents based on PLDB data focusing on a leading enterprise

According to recent surveys, the ratio of utilised patents is around 50% out of the number of patents. This situation means that the protected inventions are not utilised on the market efficiently, resulting less contribution to the innovations and economic growth. There are some researches on the causes and characteristics of unutilised patents but it is not enough to refine patent strategy. Then, in this research, we focused on the relationship between the probability of utilisation and the ‘basic-ness’ of patents or the evaluations of patents by an applicant, and performed empirical analysis by using patent licensing database and logistic regression. As a result, it was found that the evaluations of patents by an applicant affected the probability both positively and negatively though the basic-ness did not affect. These results are implicative for enterprises, authorities and subsequently researches to improve the utilisation of patents for further industrial development.