Assistance to Developing Countries

The globalization of the economy has resulted in an increase in R&D and business activities, and the protection of Intellectual Property (IP) has become an extremely important issue worldwide.

Improving the trade and investment environment in developing countries by reinforcing the protection of intellectual property in these countries results in not only the protection of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Japanese enterprises doing business in these countries, but also in the sustainable economic development of the countries themselves.

In order to uphold the provisions stipulated in the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement^*), the minimum legal systems to protect intellectual property have been established in developing countries. However, it is important to extend further assistance to developing countries in order to expand the scope of their legal systems, and strengthen their supervisory systems in terms of protecting intellectual property.

In recent years, a multiplicity of assistance has been provided to developing countries. This has included assistance to develop human resources in line with the growing number of examiners in countries where remarkable economic development is taking place, as well as assistance to combat counterfeit products that obstruct countries’ economic activities and undermine their safety and security, and assistance to promote mutual cooperation among countries in order to develop more efficient examination processes for patent applications that are becoming increasingly globalized.

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) is undertaking the following initiatives in order to respond to these concerns:

Specific Initiatives of the JPO

International Cooperation in Association with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

The JPO, in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has contributed toward the improvement of IP systems in developing countries, and focused on developing human resources who will lead the IP systems.

【Links】WIPO website

Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (External link)

JPO Cooperation in Human Resource Development (JPO/IPR Training Course etc)

The JPO, as part of its efforts in the area of Human Resource Development, conducts IPR training courses for government officials including examiners and IP experts in the private sector from developing countries. The training courses are conducted either online or by invitation to attend courses in Japan. Additionally, we hold follow-up seminars in individual developing countries, which results in the development of human resources who play a central role in the intellectual property infrastructure in developing countries, as well as building networks.

JPO/GPA Training

The Global Patent Academy (GPA) Instructors of the JPO provide training programs on patent examination practices for examiners in emerging countries including those in the ASEAN region. The GPA Instructors also serve as lecturers for the JPO/IPR Training Courses.

Notes

The JPO has been providing technical cooperation to developing member countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) based on Article 67 of the TRIPS Agreement. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat has published, on its website (link to an external site) the information on technical cooperation provided by individual advanced countries, including the activities of the JPO. For details, please see the "TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES" (link to an external site).

^*TRIPS Agreement

The TRIPS Agreement was put into effect by the WTO on January 1, 1995. As of July 2020, there are 164 countries and regions that are members to the Agreement. While developed country members (which number around 30 countries including Japan) were obliged to comply with the Agreement effective January 1, 1996, developing country members were obliged to do so from January 1, 2000. LDCs have been given an extension by eight more years, until 1 July 2021, to provide protection under the TRIPS Agreement, based on a request that was agreed upon by member governments in June 2013 at a TRIPS Board of Directors Meeting. The significance of this agreement lies in its ability to make IPR protection essentially possible through provisions clarifying the minimum protection standards, and enforcing intellectual property in a wide range of fields in all member countries, irrespective of their level of development.

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[Last updated 19 March 2024]

Developing Country Cooperation Section

International Cooperation Division

Policy Planning and Coordination Department

Japan Patent Office

E-mail：PA0870@jpo.go.jp

Examination Policy Planning Office

Administrative Affairs Division

Patent and Design Examination Department

Japan Patent Office

Tel:+81-3-3581-1101 (ex. 3103)

E-mail：PA2260@jpo.go.jp

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