intellectual property

Monetization of Patent Rights (Part 2)

  • 2024年09月12日
#intellectual property #patent

　This is a continuation of the previous article. This is a continuation of the typical methods of monetizing patent rights.

5, Litigation and patent infringement warnings

　If another company infringes on your patent rights, you can warn the other company and claim damages by entering into a license agreement with them or by filing a lawsuit against them. However, litigation is time-consuming and expensive and should be done strategically.

6, Building and managing a patent portfolio

　By building a portfolio that combines multiple patent rights (which can include design rights, trademarks, etc.) and proceeding with licensing agreements based on this portfolio, profits can be maximized. Alternatively, the entire portfolio could be sold to a specific company.

7, Participation in patent pools and consortiums

　This is a way to earn licensing fees by participating in a patent pool or consortium and working with other patent holders to license technology to the market. This is particularly effective for patent rights related to standard technologies.

8, Partnering with investors and venture capitalists

　This is a way to monetize patent rights by launching a startup that utilizes the patented technology and obtaining funds from affiliated investors and venture capitalists. If successful, the business based on the patented technology has the potential to generate significant revenues.

9, Leverage tax strategies

　In some cases, tax incentives may be available through the use of patent rights. For example, by utilizing the patent box system (currently not established in Japan), a lower tax rate can be applied to earnings related to patent rights.

　As explained in the above two articles, the ways to monetize patent rights vary depending on the nature of the patent, the market situation, and the company’s strategy, and also vary depending on the country or region where the patent was acquired. By combining the above methods, it is possible to maximize the value of the patent rights (so-called intellectual property rights) acquired in each country.

　If you have any questions or need further advice, please contact us.
(Maruhachi)

Monetization of Patent Rights (Part 1)

  • 2024年09月10日
#intellectual property #patent

　There are several possible strategies for businesses to monetize patent rights. Typical methods are listed below.

1, Licensing

　Exclusive license: this is a method of granting a patent right exclusively to a specific company for a license fee. This gives the company an advantage over other competitors.
　Non-exclusive license: a method of obtaining a broad license fee by granting a license to several companies at the same time. License fees tend to be lower than those for exclusive licenses, but it allows diversification of revenues.

2, Cross-licensing

　This is a strategy of exchanging patent rights with another company to make the technology owned by both parties mutually available. This reduces the payment of license fees and the risk of patent infringement and encourages the development of new technologies.

3, Commercialization

　This is a way of earning direct revenues by commercializing the patented technology in-house and offering it to the market as a product or service. This requires manufacturing, sales and marketing capabilities.
　Offering the product, service or business model covered by the patent right to the market on your own (e.g. by implementing the product on your own, using the method on your own) is an inherently basic and core way of implementing a patented invention (the traditional way of utilizing the patent system).
　Commercialization has the potential to maximize the value of the patent.

4, Sale of patent rights

　Selling the patent rights in a lump sum is a way of obtaining immediate capital. It is important to estimate the future value of the patent rights and sell them at an appropriate price. Possible sellers include other companies in the same industry, patent brokers or investors.

　These are some of the ways to monetize (utilize) patent rights, which will be continued in the next article.
(Maruhachi)

About nail clippers

  • 2024年09月06日
#design #intellectual property #patent

It’s Swimmer.
The other day, while watching a TV program on new product development failures, I heard a lot of words related to intellectual property, such as ‘patent rights’, ‘infringement’, ‘design rights’, etc. I thought to myself, I usually hear about patents, but in comparison, I don’t hear much about designs.

How to dodge other companies’ intellectual property rights, the hardships of selling new products, and how to strengthen one’s own intellectual property after twists and turns…… were very interesting. I felt that there are more and more opportunities to encounter intellectual property terms even in this kind of variety-style program.

nail clipper

The image shows a nail clipper manufactured by the company featured in the program that has been used in our home for over 40 years. It still cuts very well.

The Yellow and White Paper

  • 2024年08月21日
#design #intellectual property #patent #trademark

My family and I often go to “Kura Sushi” in our neighborhood.
However, it is always crowded, and we often have to wait even if we have a reservation.
One day, when we were waiting in the restaurant to be called as usual, I happened to see a familiar piece of paper displayed in a frame behind the waiting seat where I happened to sit.

a patent certificate and a registration certificate

What a surprise…a patent certificate and a registration certificate Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ！
I said to my family, “Look! There are patent and registration certificates!” (laugh).
It was the first time I noticed them at Kura Sushi, a place I have visited many times, and I was a little happy to encounter them in such a familiar place.

With 35 patents, 15 designs, and 531 trademarks, you can see that Kura Sushi Co. puts a lot of effort into intellectual property. (Rabbit)

Using Licensable Patent ~IP Business Matching~

  • 2024年03月06日
#intellectual property

　Have you ever heard of ‘IP business matching’?
　It is not always the case that a company creates its own original intellectual property rights. A company sometimes uses the licensable patents of other companies to develop new products. IP business matching is the creation of a new IP business by bringing together the seeds of companies holding unused patents and the needs of companies seeking patented technology that can be used to develop their own products.

Business Matching

　For example, the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry has a guidebook on IP business matching on its website.

https://www.chubu.meti.go.jp/b36tokkyo/sesaku/chizai_businessmatching/matching_toppage.html (Japanese only)

　An example of IP business matching was previously introduced in the program ‘Gogosumatching TV’ on CBC TV (a broadcaster in the Chubu region).

https://hicbc.com/tv/gogosumatchingtv/ (Japanese only)

Business Matching

　Depending on the company using it, the basic technology of the same licensable patent may be used for a completely different product. It is also possible that a new invention may be created by combining the basic technology with another technology. Recently, IP business matching has attracted attention as a form of IP strategy.
　Please contact our Firm for further information. (Conan)

‘Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos ~Everybody’s Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex~

  • 2024年02月07日
#intellectual property #trademark

　Hello, this is Hiro.
　I received an invitation from my child’s elementary school and kindergarten to visit the Gifu City Art Exhibition, so my family and I went to see the exhibition. The venue was “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos”. “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos” is a cultural-arts complex centered on the Gifu City Library, completed in 2015.

'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～ 'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～

　The Gifu City Art Exhibition was held in the exhibition space on the first floor of “Minna no Mori Gifu Media Cosmos”. Many paintings, prints, brushstrokes, and other works by children attending nursery schools, kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools, and special-needs schools in Gifu City were on display. Unfortunately, our child’s work was not on display, but it was nice to see many works of art by children with a child-like touch and detailed drawings.

　After viewing the Gifu City Art Exhibition, we went to the library on the second floor. The wooden lattice ceiling and several hanging globes from it are beautiful and make the space very comfortable and cozy.

'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～ 'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～

　I had visited this library once a few years ago but did not use it at that time. This time, I made a new user card and borrowed books. I borrowed six books on intellectual property practice and a book on intellectual property for elementary and junior high school students, “Intellectual Property Rights You should Know at School 1-3 “.

'Minna no Mori' Gifu Media Cosmos ～Everybody's Library and other Cultural-Arts Complex～

　”Intellectual Property Rights You Should Know at School 1-3″ is supervised by Mr. Tetsuhiro Hosono, born in Gifu Prefecture who served as Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office from 2009 to 2011. The books are described with many cartoons, figures, and photographs, making it easy for elementary and junior high school students to understand. The book is recommended not only for children but also for adults as a book to learn about intellectual property rights.

　”Minna no Mori” and “Gifu Media Cosmos” are registered as trademarks for services in Class 41 “book rental, art exhibitions,…” and Class 43 “rental of facilities for exhibitions…” (Japanese Registration No. 5522323 and 5522324).

Foreign language ｜ みんなの森　ぎふメディアコスモス – ´Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos (g-mediacosmos.jp)

Space Education Recommendations

  • 2024年01月31日
#copyright #intellectual property

The Small Lunar Module (SLIM) launched by JAXA became the fifth country in the world to successfully land on the Moon. Unfortunately, the planned lunar exploration seems to be difficult due to a problem with the landing attitude, but we will keep our eyes on the future of this project.
By the way, JAXA provides a variety of educational materials for free on its website. Please read the terms and conditions of copyright and intellectual property rights carefully before using these materials, and try them at home.
https://edu.jaxa.jp/materialDB/

The image is a picture of the moon I took with my smartphone a few years ago. You can see something in the reflection.
(Swimmer)

moon

Heart-shaped grapes

  • 2023年09月22日
#intellectual property

I received grapes from my neighbor.

My Heart

They said that they buy them at Komadachi in Okazaki City.
The grapes are a rare heart-shaped variety called “My Heart” and can be eaten without seeds and with the skin intact. They are sweet and delicious, and the beautiful heart-shaped grapes make me very happy. It is a treat every year during this season.

My Heart

I found out that “My Heart” is a grape variety developed by Shimura Grape Research Institute, which is a cross between “Shine Muscat” and “Wink”.
https://dr-tomio.com/pages/myvariety (Only in Japanese)

Excellent varieties can be protected under the variety registration system (Seed and Seedling Law).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has a variety registration data search page that shows that “My Heart” is not registered, but “Shine Muscat” and “Wink” are registered.

Intellectual property is also important in the field of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
The Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) website provides an overview of agricultural and fisheries intellectual property, including agribusiness that utilizes intellectual property.
https://www.jpaa.or.jp/nousui-ip/index.html (Only in Japanese)

Leave your agricultural and fisheries intellectual property matters to us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Now, Komadachi is famous for grapes in Okazaki City.
Grapes picking seems to be open until around October 10, so if you are considering leisure activities in the Okazaki area, I recommend you visit. (Cacao)
https://www.coma-grape.com/ (Only in Japanese)

Toyota Ecoful Town

  • 2023年09月08日
#intellectual property

　The other day, I went to “Toyota Ecoful Town” in Toyota City.
Toyota City has been selected by the government as an “SDGs Future City” to lead activities to achieve the SDGs.
The city is expanding its efforts to achieve the SDGs, focusing on “energy,” “mobility,” and “wellness”.
The Toyota Ecoful Town is a base for prosperous lifestyles and a facility where visitors can experience examples of new initiatives that look 10 to 50 years into the future.

Toyota Ecoful Town

　The Toyota Ecoful Town had exhibits on compact mobility, global issues, drones, Toyota City’s history, and the SDGs, including a hydrogen station, a plant cultivation unit, and an off-grid trailer house.
Visitors were also able to see a device that converts water in the air into drinking water and can generate 4 liters per day. This can be expected to help with water shortages in emerging countries where water is cut off during disasters and clean water is not available.

　It was very impressive to learn about both the vision and the direction of society, from a manufacturing town to a town where things, matters, and people are created, and also to see the society 50 years from now, with the video of Toyota City 50 years from now.
If you are interested in the contents, please visit Toyota Ecoful Town. (Raspberry)

Toyota Ecoful Town https://toyota-ecofultown.com/en/

INTA2023 in Singapore

  • 2023年06月21日
#intellectual property #trademark

　I participated in INTA2023 held in Singapore from May 16 to 20. INTA2023 is the annual meeting of INTA (International Trademark Association), where many trademark attorneys, patent attorneys, and other IP professionals gather from all over the world. This year, more than 3,700 companies from around the world gathered for the event. This year, more than 8,000 people from over 3,700 companies and organizations registered to attend.

Singapore INTA2023

　The venue was the Sands Expo & Convention Center. The exhibition hall on the first floor was very spacious, and many companies and organizations exhibited booths, including companies and IP firms that provide IP-related tools from various countries. During the exhibition, I had meetings with local representatives of various countries with whom I have daily business relationships, and also interacted with IP professionals from various countries whom I met both inside and outside the venue. Interaction with IP professionals whom I got to know by being approached during breaks and by talking to them was an experience that I was able to have only because I participated in the real event.

INTA2023 INTA2023

　Singapore is famous for the Merlion! So after the meeting, we stopped by Merlion Park. The actual Merlion was just as I had imagined, neither too big nor too small, and in both color and shape. It was a new discovery that there was a mini Merlion behind the Merlion.

Merlion mini Merlion

　During my business trip, most of the people I saw at the airport and in town, and those I interacted with inside and outside the venue, were not wearing masks, and I was honestly perplexed by the difference from the situation in Japan before my departure. But at the same time, I remembered the situation that was normal and usual before the Corona disaster. I believe that in the future there will be more real exchanges in Japan and economic activities in various industries will become more active. As one of patent attorneys, I will continue to engage in activities that will lead to the boosting of the intellectual property industry and industrial circles. (Hiro)

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