Intellectual Property

METI contributes to achieving the improvement of corporate value and the vitalization of the economy through providing a Government Inquiry Desk against counterfeit and pirated goods, and the evaluation and utilization of intellectual assets as “intangible strengths” of companies.

• Understanding IP

General Contact Point for Matters on Counterfeit and Pirated Goods (in Japanese)

This office accepts requests for consultations on counterfeit and pirated goods from Japanese right holders; mainly from companies that are operating overseas.

Intellectual asset-based management (in Japanese)

This website explains a variety of policies for and provides information on approaches that companies can take to improve their management through evaluation, utilization and public relations activities related to their intellectual assets.

Click the following site to visit the website exclusively for Intellectual Asset-Based Management Week 2019 (latest version).

Unfair Competition Prevention Act

This Act aims to regulate “unfair competition,” including infringement of trade secrets, unauthorized use of well-known marks, false indications of places of origin and sales of dead copies of products, and also to stipulate acts prohibited based on international agreements and thereby contribute to the sound development of the national economy.

Good Faith Negotiation Guidelines for Standard Essential Patent Licenses

News Releases

• Japan-ASEAN Joint Statement for IP 2024 Adopted (September 4, 2024)
• New Position for External Experts Called AI Advisors to be Established to Support Patent Examiners in Accessing Expert Knowledge on AI-Related Technology (March 28, 2024)
• I-OPEN PROJECT Designated Recipient of Good Design Award 2023 (October 5, 2023)
• Inter-governmental Cooperation Advanced in the Field of Intellectual Property (July 18, 2023)
• Minister Nishimura Holds Meeting with WIPO Director General Tang (February 27, 2023)
• Japanese and Chinese Government Organizations Held Exchange of Views Toward Stronger Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (January 19, 2023)
• Anti-Counterfeiting Campaign Has Been Revamped (December 7, 2022)
• Release of Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2022 (July 27, 2022)
• Inter-governmental Cooperation Advanced in the Field of Intellectual Property (July 25, 2022)
• Cabinet Decisions on the “Cabinet Order to Set the Effective Dates for Parts of the Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts” and the “Cabinet Order to Partially Revise the Order on Fees Related to the Patent Act and Other Acts” (July 15, 2022)
• Winners of "AI x Trademark: Image Search Competition" (March 14, 2022)
• Cabinet Decision on the Cabinet Order Regarding the Organization of Relevant Cabinet Orders Accompanying the Coming into Effect of the Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts (December 21, 2021)
• AI x Trademark: Image Search Competition to Be Held (November 22, 2021)
• Oral Proceedings for Trials for Patent Invalidation Can Now Be Attended Online (October 1, 2021)

Related Links

• Japan Patent Office Link

Division in Charge

• Intellectual Property Policy Office, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau

General Contact Point for Matters on Counterfeit and Pirated Goods;

• Anti-Counterfeit Office, International Cooperation Division, Japan Patent Office