Japan

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20 Dec 2018

MIT and Harvard lead the world’s research institutions in patent quality, but look out for the rise of China

The research centres which produce the most world-leading assets are currently found in the US and Europe, but analysis shows that Chinese universities are beginning to catch up (Picture: MIT) Read more

18 Dec 2018

Huawei vs Samsung conflict is about more than patents

As the pair duke it out in an SEP licensing dispute, the Korean company's chipmaking division fears crucial trade secrets have already made their way to Shenzhen Read more

10 Dec 2018

Seiko Epson makes more big disposals

Former collaboration partner E Ink picks up nearly 800 patents; assignments reveal almost as many rights sold to OLED startup last year Read more

16 Nov 2018

IP Bridge earns first US litigation win

Jury verdict comes three years after the Japanese sovereign patent fund led by CEO Shigeharu Yoshii (pictured, centre) made Chinese mobile maker TCL its first US litigation target. Read more

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Designs

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13 Sep 2018

Patent litigation in Japan should be more attractive option, says JPO commissioner

In opening speech at IPBC Japan, Naoko Munakata suggests that rethinking rules around evidence collection and damages awards may make the system more "user-friendly" to start-ups and bigger companies Read more

10 Sep 2018

Japanese suppliers see little alternative to litigation as challenges in China mount

Companies across the auto supply chain seek to stop infringement and prevent trade secret loss as China’s central government seeks to boost local players. Read more

23 Aug 2018

Japan to extend design patent term by five years

Legislation proposed by the JPO may also extend greater design protection to graphical user interfaces in bid to help system keep pace with new technology. Read more

Finance

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29 Oct 2018

Fujifilm spins 900+ patents to Shenzhen firm in $28m deal

O-Film, which supplies camera modules to top smartphone brands, acquires a sizable IP portfolio as part of the deal. It will also take over the Japanese firm's Tianjin-based joint venture business focused on auto. Read more

30 Jul 2018

Seiko Epson assigned nearly 2,000 patents to NPE Longitude Licensing

The electronics company's largest ever divestment nets Ireland-based chip IP licensor a second major Japanese portfolio. Read more

22 Jul 2018

Five years after its founding, IP Bridge reflects Japan’s changing approach to patents

Sovereign fund remains trailblazer in market that continues to open up to IP monetisation Read more

7 Jun 2018

Intellectual Ventures, Amex veterans to launch blockchain-powered IP trading platform

New start-up Operem hopes to launch IP exchange by year's end after closing series A funding round in April. CEO Tim Londergan says the project can lure financial investors into the IP world. Read more

FRAND/SEPS

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9 Aug 2018

JPO commissioner will stay at the reins as her signature ADR initiative gets off the ground

Naoko Munakata will stay at the controls for a second year, as just two of her last eight predecessors have done. She has spent much of her first year advancing initiatives related to SEPs. Read more

22 Jul 2018

Five years after its founding, IP Bridge reflects Japan’s changing approach to patents

Sovereign fund remains trailblazer in market that continues to open up to IP monetisation Read more

13 Jul 2018

Qualcomm reigns in global WLAN patents but Marvell rules in the US and Nokia leads by SEP count

A new study of the wireless LAN (WLAN) global patent landscape reveals that while Qualcomm is the dominant player in the space overall, it is beaten by Marvell in the United States by active portfolio size and conspicuously absent from the list of… Read more

25 May 2018

Sony transfers patent portfolio to corporate vehicle affiliated with Marconi Group

Recent USPTO records show that Sony has transferred a portfolio of over one hundred US patents to an entity called Wi-Fi One LLC, an affiliate of the Marconi Group. The Japanese company already participates in the Avanci and Velos patent pools, and… Read more

Law & Policy

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16 Oct 2018

JPO will turn its attention to litigation reform

With big ADR push behind it, office asks firms to weigh in on whether courts provide sufficient IP protection. Commissioner Naoko Munakata previewed the initiative in recent remarks at IPBC Japan. Read more

25 Sep 2018

Licensors like Qualcomm, Microsoft among biggest trade winners, China says

In its most thorough response yet to tech transfer complaints, government highlights $7 billion in annual IP payments to US firms and the country’s increasing attractiveness as a patent litigation venue. Read more

13 Sep 2018

Patent litigation in Japan should be more attractive option, says JPO commissioner

In opening speech at IPBC Japan, Naoko Munakata suggests that rethinking rules around evidence collection and damages awards may make the system more "user-friendly" to start-ups and bigger companies Read more

23 Aug 2018

Japan to extend design patent term by five years

Legislation proposed by the JPO may also extend greater design protection to graphical user interfaces in bid to help system keep pace with new technology. Read more

Litigation

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29 Oct 2018

Fujifilm spins 900+ patents to Shenzhen firm in $28m deal

O-Film, which supplies camera modules to top smartphone brands, acquires a sizable IP portfolio as part of the deal. It will also take over the Japanese firm's Tianjin-based joint venture business focused on auto. Read more

16 Oct 2018

JPO will turn its attention to litigation reform

With big ADR push behind it, office asks firms to weigh in on whether courts provide sufficient IP protection. Commissioner Naoko Munakata previewed the initiative in recent remarks at IPBC Japan. Read more

5 Oct 2018

Taiwan chipmaker walks away from Toshiba Memory dispute with $40m settlement

First enforcement effort by Hsinchu-based Macronix ends with cash payout to end matters in the US, Japan and Taiwan. Read more

25 Sep 2018

Licensors like Qualcomm, Microsoft among biggest trade winners, China says

In its most thorough response yet to tech transfer complaints, government highlights $7 billion in annual IP payments to US firms and the country’s increasing attractiveness as a patent litigation venue. Read more

Market Developments

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16 Oct 2018

JPO will turn its attention to litigation reform

With big ADR push behind it, office asks firms to weigh in on whether courts provide sufficient IP protection. Commissioner Naoko Munakata previewed the initiative in recent remarks at IPBC Japan. Read more

4 Oct 2018

SoftBank bets on Toyota’s self-driving patent lead

A recent study pegged Toyota as biggest automated driving patent owner, with Waymo gaining ground. Now Japan’s biggest automaker will team with the country’s top tech investor in a mobility-focused joint venture. Read more

25 Sep 2018

Licensors like Qualcomm, Microsoft among biggest trade winners, China says

In its most thorough response yet to tech transfer complaints, government highlights $7 billion in annual IP payments to US firms and the country’s increasing attractiveness as a patent litigation venue. Read more

9 Aug 2018

JPO commissioner will stay at the reins as her signature ADR initiative gets off the ground

Naoko Munakata will stay at the controls for a second year, as just two of her last eight predecessors have done. She has spent much of her first year advancing initiatives related to SEPs. Read more

Non practising entities

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15 Oct 2018

Licensing market has turned a corner insists CEO of giant NPE

Claim comes as Dominion announces major portfolio acquisition from Panasonic in its first major deal with Japanese electronics giant Read more

27 Sep 2018

Renesas announces major move into IP licensing

The Japanese chip-maker, emerging from years of control by a public-private rescue fund, is aiming to diversify its revenue streams. The goal is to earn $90m from selling chip designs in 2025. Read more

5 Aug 2018

NPEs like Sisvel have survived the storm - that's another reason why the deals market is picking up

A series of recent deals from Italian licensing business show that some patent owners are prospering in current climate. Read more

30 Jul 2018

Seiko Epson assigned nearly 2,000 patents to NPE Longitude Licensing

The electronics company's largest ever divestment nets Ireland-based chip IP licensor a second major Japanese portfolio. Read more

Patent pools

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19 Jun 2018

Longhorn IP unit acquires former Sharp semiconductor patents from Foxconn

Longhorn IP, the Texas-based NPE, has launched its fifth portfolio, a collection of semiconductor patents originally owned by Sharp. The licensing company, run by Khaled Fekih-Romdhane and Chris Dubuc, is calling its new vehicle Katana Silicon… Read more

4 Jun 2018

NTT Docomo dials up IP Bridge as it diversifies its licensing strategy

Mobile network operator NTT Docomo has become the latest Japanese firm to partner with IP Bridge, the patent fund run by CEO Shigeharu Yoshii. A wireless-focused subsidiary of NTT, the world’s fourth largest telco by revenue, Docomo has previously… Read more

25 May 2018

Sony transfers patent portfolio to corporate vehicle affiliated with Marconi Group

Recent USPTO records show that Sony has transferred a portfolio of over one hundred US patents to an entity called Wi-Fi One LLC, an affiliate of the Marconi Group. The Japanese company already participates in the Avanci and Velos patent pools, and… Read more

9 Jan 2018

IP Bridge joins Panasonic and Sony in Avanci; JPO tipped to endorse platform approach in new guidelines

Last month capped a big year for Avanci, the platform dedicated to licensing wireless SEPs to connected vehicles and other Internet of Things (IoT) verticals. As this blog reported on the company’s first agreement (with BMW) and its disclosure of… Read more

Strategy

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29 Oct 2018

Fujifilm spins 900+ patents to Shenzhen firm in $28m deal

O-Film, which supplies camera modules to top smartphone brands, acquires a sizable IP portfolio as part of the deal. It will also take over the Japanese firm's Tianjin-based joint venture business focused on auto. Read more

12 Oct 2018

Samsung affiliates pick up hundreds of patents from Japanese sellers

The Korean conglomerate’s electronics and display arms acquired major portfolios from Japan Inc over the summer, USPTO assignments reveal. Read more

4 Oct 2018

SoftBank bets on Toyota’s self-driving patent lead

A recent study pegged Toyota as biggest automated driving patent owner, with Waymo gaining ground. Now Japan’s biggest automaker will team with the country’s top tech investor in a mobility-focused joint venture. Read more

27 Sep 2018

Renesas announces major move into IP licensing

The Japanese chip-maker, emerging from years of control by a public-private rescue fund, is aiming to diversify its revenue streams. The goal is to earn $90m from selling chip designs in 2025. Read more

Technology licensing

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29 Oct 2018

Fujifilm spins 900+ patents to Shenzhen firm in $28m deal

O-Film, which supplies camera modules to top smartphone brands, acquires a sizable IP portfolio as part of the deal. It will also take over the Japanese firm's Tianjin-based joint venture business focused on auto. Read more

12 Oct 2018

Samsung affiliates pick up hundreds of patents from Japanese sellers

The Korean conglomerate’s electronics and display arms acquired major portfolios from Japan Inc over the summer, USPTO assignments reveal. Read more

27 Sep 2018

Renesas announces major move into IP licensing

The Japanese chip-maker, emerging from years of control by a public-private rescue fund, is aiming to diversify its revenue streams. The goal is to earn $90m from selling chip designs in 2025. Read more

25 Sep 2018

Licensors like Qualcomm, Microsoft among biggest trade winners, China says

In its most thorough response yet to tech transfer complaints, government highlights $7 billion in annual IP payments to US firms and the country’s increasing attractiveness as a patent litigation venue. Read more

Trademarks

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1 Oct 2017

An IP-based business model for equity research

Regulatory reforms and technological disruption are transforming the research functions within major financial institutions. Now Japan’s biggest bank is attempting to harness IP big data to give it an inside edge on equity analysis Read more

1 Oct 2017

Building Japanese corporate IP departments of the future

Amid dramatic industrial changes, Japanese companies have the chance to take a major leap forward and deploy IP activities to greater effect throughout enterprises. This will involve not only IP teams, but also management and business divisions Read more

5 Sep 2016

Sharp sell-off begins as Foxconn turnaround plan takes effect on the Japanese company’s IP portfolio

In the wake of Foxconn’s historic $3.5 billion purchase of a majority stake in Sharp, streamlining and rationalisation of the Japanese company’s extensive IP portfolio are high on the agenda for its new Taiwanese owners. According to research… Read more

1 Apr 2016

Midea nets major patent acquisition and brand deal as part of purchase of Toshiba's appliance business

Last week, this blog reported that Guangdong-based appliance company Midea had agreed to acquire a majority stake in Toshiba’s white goods unit, in the latest sign that Japanese industry is becoming more open to selling its technology to foreign… Read more

Trade secrets

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29 Oct 2018

Fujifilm spins 900+ patents to Shenzhen firm in $28m deal

O-Film, which supplies camera modules to top smartphone brands, acquires a sizable IP portfolio as part of the deal. It will also take over the Japanese firm's Tianjin-based joint venture business focused on auto. Read more

25 Sep 2018

Licensors like Qualcomm, Microsoft among biggest trade winners, China says

In its most thorough response yet to tech transfer complaints, government highlights $7 billion in annual IP payments to US firms and the country’s increasing attractiveness as a patent litigation venue. Read more

10 Sep 2018

Japanese suppliers see little alternative to litigation as challenges in China mount

Companies across the auto supply chain seek to stop infringement and prevent trade secret loss as China’s central government seeks to boost local players. Read more

10 Sep 2018

Chinese firm’s rare victory in trade secrets case holds lessons for other defendants

Qingdao metal manufacturer fended off ITC Section 337 complaint with fastidious R&D record keeping, among other factors Read more

Valuation

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29 Oct 2018

Fujifilm spins 900+ patents to Shenzhen firm in $28m deal

O-Film, which supplies camera modules to top smartphone brands, acquires a sizable IP portfolio as part of the deal. It will also take over the Japanese firm's Tianjin-based joint venture business focused on auto. Read more

7 Jun 2018

Intellectual Ventures, Amex veterans to launch blockchain-powered IP trading platform

New start-up Operem hopes to launch IP exchange by year's end after closing series A funding round in April. CEO Tim Londergan says the project can lure financial investors into the IP world. Read more

31 Oct 2017

JPO's IoT leadership; China's court revolution; R&D matters and much more from IPBC Asia Day Two

We have reached the end of IPBC Asia 2017 at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo. Delegates are enjoying one final cocktail at the closing reception before heading off to catch their trains and planes home. It’s been a highly successful event that attracted… Read more

30 Oct 2017

All change in auto, collaboration challenges, a mega bank loves IP and much more from IPBC Asia Day One

The first full day of IPBC Asia 2017, taking place at the palace Hotel in Tokyo, has come to an end. The 530 delegates attending the event have been treated to a number of insightful presentations and have enjoyed any number of stimulating… Read more

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