JPO Commissioner Gave a Keynote Speech at the 2020 Virtual IPO Annual Meeting

September 25, 2020

On September 21, 2020, the Virtual Annual Meeting hosted by Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) ^* was held, and Mr. Kasutani, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), gave a keynote speech at the opening session.

In his speech, Commissioner Kasutani introduced JPO's initiatives to smoothly promote innovation in digital technology, in particular, the publication of examination cases of AI/IoT-related inventions, the reform of the Design Act, the rapidness of examinations, and measures to support startups. He also pointed out supply chain reform across borders due to the COVID-19 outbreak and emphasized the need to intensify international cooperation with other IP offices, such as work sharing (Patent Prosecution Highway, US-JP Collaborative Search Pilot Program) and capacity building in developing countries.

The JPO hopes that obtaining an understanding of JPO's initiatives from American users will lead to the promotion of intellectual property activities.

Keynote speech by JPO Commissioner Kasutani

^* Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO): An U.S. industry trade association that was established for the interests of IP rights owners with the aim of promoting protection of IP. The IPO's members consist of individuals and corporate entities involved in IP, including around 100 large and medium-sized companies, as well as around 250 small companies, universities, independent investors, and lawyers.

[Last updated 25 September 2020]