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Round Table “Strengthening the Int’l Competitiveness of Components & Materials”

On July 24, 2013, the Round Table “Strengthening the International Competitiveness of Components and Materials” was held at the JETRO TOKYO, sponsored by JPO.
Representatives from about 60 companies participated in the round table. Mr. Komai (Sumitomo Osaka Cement), a member of Asia Project, participated as a moderator.

In Part I, a former general manager in the METI presented the topic “Problem of outflow of technologies and protection of business secrets.” Then a representative from Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal presented the topic “Management of technical information”.
Participants discussed the problems associated with the current Unfair Competition Prevention Act and what revisions should be made in the Act to improve the situation, and what side effects might arise through such improvements. They also discussed what legal systems are needed for protecting the business secrets of companies.

In Part II, JPO talked about the “Current state of IP strategies and problems” and a representative from Mitsubishi Chemical presented “Unexpected cases in invalidation trials in Korea”. A representative from Hitachi Chemical talked about “Improvement of the competitiveness of Japanese industry: Problems in IP strategy and prospects” with specific examples.
Representatives from other companies also shared information by presenting the IP-related problems they had experienced, and measures taken to fight against them.

In final Part, a representative from the Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau presented activities of the “Public-Private Forum of Business Secrets”. He explained that problems involving emerging countries that may be difficult for a company to handle by itself will be handled by unified action involving both the government and the private sector.

[Update 2013-08-21 ]