Greetings for the New Year 2015

I am able to offer New Year's greetings for the second time since being given the honor of serving as the president of the Japan Intellectual Property Association thanks to the cooperation and support from all of you. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for that.

Last year, many companies significantly recovered their performance amidst the background of a weaker yen and higher stock prices, and we thought that we were seeing signs of resurgence of the Japanese economy. Then again, however, the unexpected GDP negative growth, which led to the decision to postpone the rise in the consumption tax rate, made us feel that we were still one step away from declaring a full economic revival. In addition, TPP negotiations bogged down, and we felt frustrated at the lack of progress in economic partnerships. This year, our companies, the pillars of growth, are increasingly required to contribute to further economic growth by improving our power to earn money.

Meanwhile, in the government's IP policy, major policy issues were established in the "IP Promotion PlanIntellectual Property Strategic Program 2014" with a focus on fundamental review of the employee invention system and overall enhancement of trade secret protection as well as support for overseas IP activities of small and medium-sized companies, venture companies and universities, and related measures were promoted steadily.

In particular, concerning the fundamental review of the employee invention system and overall enhancement of trade secret protection, which serve as a source of corporate competitiveness, intensive discussions have been underway in relevant ministries and agencies, and a billthe related bills on these issues isare expected to be submitted to the ordinary Diet session this year. JIPAOur association also conducted lobbying energetically in various sectors.

We believe, however, JIPAthat our association should not be satisfied with these results obtained last year. Rather, the real value of our association is being tested in terms of what contribution we can make from the aspect of intellectual property so as to allow the companies to enhance their power to earn more money.

For example, economic partnership negotiations in which Japan participates are not limited to the TPP and the Japan-EU/EPA, but also include the RCEP with a view to building a future FTAAP, the Japan-China-Korea FTA and so on, which are being promoted in parallel. Meanwhile, negotiations of the US-EU FTA and others have also been underway around the world, and if economic partnership at a high level progresses, rules about trade and investment in the whole world are expected to be made and the possibility of market development of enterprises will be expanded.

Under these circumstances, in order for Japan to make investments, for example, in ASEAN countries, consolidation of the intellectual property system in a country is not sufficient, but building of a desirable system in view of the distribution over the area or even with the outside of the area needs to be sought from the viewpoint of harmonization of systems. Turning to Japan, if we can make the reliable intellectual property system in Japan easier to use and can show that Japan is valuable as an attractive research and development center or market under the improved system, then investment in Japan from the foreign countries will also further increase, which would result in companies exerting the power to further earn money in Japan.

In this way, to provide specific wise measures looking at the big picture and consolidate the intellectual property system which serves as the foundation for companies to earn money would be what JIPAour association can do.

This year is 70 years since the end of WWII, and JIPAour association will see the 77th anniversary of its foundation. I would like to express my gratitude again to our predecessors who deemed intellectual property to be a source of competitiveness since the prewar days and contributed to the Japanese economy seeking optimal intellectual property policy in each era.

JIPA Our association is not satisfied with the status quo but would rather like to continue to make bids for a better state, and we will also make various efforts together with our members this year.