Winds from Japan is a newsletter of LES Japan for overseas LES members and other licensing specialists concerning activities of LES Japan and developments in IP and licensing.

Editorial Board Members, 2024
Editor in Chief : Yasuo Fujii
Editors : Jinzo Fujino; Shoichi Okuyama; Junichi Yamazaki; Kei Konishi; Naoki Yoshida; Mitsuo Kariya;
Takao Yagi; Hideko Mihara; Yoko Natsume; Dennis M. Hubbs
Yasuko Tanaka, Chihoko Shirasawa

Recent Numbers

Issue #80 [PDF:3.2MB]Issue #80 [HTML] August 2024
Table of contents Author
LES Japan Special Seminar with Russell Levine Kasumi KANETAKA
5th LESI YMC Asia Pacific Conference: FORECASTING THE FUTURE OF THE IP INDUSTRY Takeshi IIZUKA
Shizu MACHINO
AIPLA-LES Japan Joint meeting 2024:WIPO IP day Tomoko NOGUCHI
2024 LES Japan Annual General Meeting Yasuo Fujii
Issue #79 [PDF:516KB] April 2024
Table of contents Author
Message from the New President Chikako Hashimoto
Monthly seminar with Judge Alan ALBRIGHT, US District Court for the Western District of Texas Tomoko Noguchi
2024 LES Japan Annual General Meeting Yasuo Fujii
Issue #78 [PDF:946KB] December 2023
Table of contents Author
Protection of Cross-border Network System related Inventions Mitsuo Kariya
Is posting to Twitter (currently X) a screenshot attachment of another Twitter post regarded as “quotation” under the Copyright Act? Yasuko Tanaka
LES Japan has published the English version of its 50th Anniversary Magazine Yasuo Fuji, Ph.D.
Issue #77 [PDF:946KB] August 2023
Table of contents Author
AIPLA-LES Japan Joint meeting 2023 Tomoko Noguchi
2023 LES Japan Annual Conference Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D
Issue #76 [PDF:305KB] April 2023
Table of contents Author
A Memoir of LES Activities Chikao Fukuda
2023 LES Japan Annual General Meeting Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D
Issue #75 [PDF:379KB] December 2022
Table of contents Author
A Memoir of LES Activities Katsumi Harashima
Is there appropriate Protection of Cross-border Webservice related Inventions? Mitsuo Kariya
LES Japan Memorial Symposium Celebrating Our 50th Anniversary Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
Issue #74 [PDF:612KB] October 2022
Table of contents Author
LES Japan Events Celebrating Our 50th Year Anniversary Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
Issue #73 [PDF:400KB] April 2022
Table of contents Author
Message from the New President Kenichi Nagasawa
Inventorship of Experimenter:One of Co-First Authors But Not One of Co-inventors Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
2022 LES Japan Annual General Meeting Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #72 [PDF:336KB] December 2021
Table of contents Author
2021 Patent Act Revision
Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Increased Influx of Counterfeit Products and Large-scale Patent Licenses
Mitsuo Kariya
COVID-19 Crises Uncover Deficiencies of Global Framework Jinzo Fujino
Three-Dimensional (3D) Trademarks in Japan Hideko Mihara
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #71 [PDF:267KB] August 2021
Table of contents Author
IP HIGH COURT CASE: COPYRIGHT FEES FOR PERFORMANCE AT MUSIC LESSONS Yoko Natsume
LES Japan Annual Conference 2021 ~Hybrid Event~ Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #70 [PDF:831KB] February 2021
Table of contents Author
Newly Registered Designs – Effect of the 2019 Design Act Revision Mitsuo Kariya
Patent Licensing in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #69 [PDF:311KB] October 2020
Table of contents Author
CRISPR patent battles –Who will be the final winner? Jinzo Fujino
LES Japan Online Mini-Annual Conference Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #68 [PDF:468KB] June 2020
Table of contents Author
Message from the New President Hiroki Saito
[Trademark]
“Use” based on sales through an online shop operated by a third party abroad was affirmed
Hideko MIHARA
Increasing Damages Awarded by the Japanese Courts Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
2020 LES Japan Annual General Assembly Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #67 [PDF:402KB] January 2020
Table of contents Author
Amendment to the Civil Code and its Impact on IP License Agreements Yusuke Inui
Higher Compensation for Damages to Patentees Mitsuo Kariya
LES Japan Mini-Annual Conference 2019 in Oiso Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #66 [PDF:507KB] November 2019
Table of contents Author
LESI Yokohama Conference Ends in Huge Success Junko Sugimura
Memo ries o f the Yokohama Conference Yvonne CHUA
Qualcomm Succeeds in the Antitrust Appeal Case Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Issue #65 [PDF:605KB] May 2019
Table of contents Author
Bill for Revision of Patent and Design Acts Hideko MIHARA
Is Serving a Steak Patent Eligible in Japan? Yoko Natsume
2019 LES Japan General Assembly Meeting Mitsuo Kariya
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Extra Issue [PDF:706KB] May 2019
Table of contents Author
History of Yokohama Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
A Yokohama Local’s Food Guide for LES Members Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
What to do? Contacting with "Japanese Traditional Culture" Hideko MIHARA
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
A Story KAMAKURA: People and Treasures Jinzo Fujino
Issue #64 [PDF:620KB] December 2018
Table of contents Author
2019 LES INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE in YOKOHAMA, JAPAN May 26-28, 2019 Junko Sugimura
History of Yokohama Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
A Yokohama Local’s Food Guide for LES Members Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
What to do? Contacting with "Japanese Traditional Culture" Hideko MIHARA
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
A Story KAMAKURA: People and Treasures Jinzo Fujino
LES Japan 41st Annual Summer Conference 2018 in Sapporo Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #63 [PDF:749KB] August 2018
Table of contents Author
Grand Panel Decision of IP High Court Yasuo Fujii, Ph.D.
JPO issues the 'SEP' Licensing Guide Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
LES Japan 41st Annual Summer Conference 2018 in Sapporo Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #62 [PDF:477KB] April 2018
Table of contents Author
Message from the New President Makoto Ogino
Big data protection, liberalized use of copyrighted works for digital data processing, 12-month grace period, and 70 years for copyright protection Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
The 2018 LES Japan General Meeting Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #61 [PDF:132KB] December 2017
Table of contents Author
Patent Infringement Cases in Japan Hisashi Watanabe
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
Attractive Yokohama -LES International 2019 Conference- Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #60 [PDF:549KB] August 2017
Table of contents Author
Copyright Fees for Performance at Music Lessons Yoko Natsume
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama, Ph.D.
LES Japan 40th Annual Summer Conference 2017 in Kobe Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #59 [PDF:309KB] April 2017
Table of contents Author
IP High Court Applied Doctrine of Equivalents in Pharmaceutical Field First Time Ever Hiroki Saito
2017 LES Japan General Assembly Kazuaki Okimoto
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
Issue #58 [PDF:112KB] December 2016
Table of contents Author
Intellectual Property Battle Between a Japanese Small-Sized Company and Apple Hisashi Watanabe
Use of JP Post-Grant Opposition System Hideko Mihara
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
Issue #57[PDF:538KB] August 2016
Table of contents Author
Drastic Update related to Inventive step in“Examination Guidelines” and “Examination Handbook” for Patent and Utility Model in Japan Hisashi Watanabe
A Turning Point in IP Education in Japan Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
LES Japan 39th Annual Summer Conference 2016 in Matsuyama Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #56[PDF:176KB] April 2016
Table of contents Author
Message from the New President Junko Sugimura
Japanese Patent Act Revision 2015 Yasuo Fujii
JFTC amends IP Guidelines to deal with FRAND issues Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
Issue #55[PDF:362KB] December 2015
Table of contents Author
2015 Asia Pacific Student Business Plan Contest Japan team was honored again Shingo Tsuda
Strengthened Trade Secret Protection in Japan 2015 Unfair Competition Prevention Act Revision Mitsuo Kariya
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
Issue #54 [PDF:1MB] July 2015
Table of contents Author
Pravastatin Sodium Case, Product-by-Process Claiming Practice: Supreme Court Overrules the Grand Panel of the IP High Court Shoichi Okuyama
LES Japan 38th Annual Summer Conference 2015 in Sendai Mitsuo Kariya
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
Issue #53 [PDF:574KB] March 2015
Table of contents Author
Hello Again: JP Post-Grant Opposition System Hideko Mihara
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
The 2015 LES Japan General Meeting Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #52 [PDF:380KB] December 2014
Table of contents Author
Third Time’s the Charm for LES Japan Ichiro Nakatomi
Industry-University Cooperation Activity at TMU Satoru Niimura
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
The LES Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2014 Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #51 [PDF:244KB] July 2014
Table of contents Author
“IP Bridge” ? Strategic IP Utilization Shigeharu Yoshii
Samsung v. Apple Decision by IP High Court Grand Panel Shoichi Okuyama
Shrimp Disease Kit Wins the Student Biz Plan Contest Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan
Shoichi Okuyama
LES Japan 37th Annual Summer Conference 2014 in Okinawa Mitsuo Kariya
Issue #50 [PDF:165KB] April 2014
Table of contents Author
Greetings from the New President Ichiro Nakatomi
LESJ’s Amicus Brief on Apple v. Samsung Jinzo Fujino
IP News from Japan Shoichi Okuyama
Issue #49 [PDF:169KB] January 2014
Table of contents Author
Amicus Briefs in Japan?
Current Status of Apple and Samsung Patent Litigation
Shoichi Okuyama
Nine Years as an Editor-in Chief of“Winds from Japan” Kazuaki Okimoto
Issue #48 [PDF:400KB] September 2013
Table of contents Author
Obituary; Dr. Mifune Masau Takayanagi
The Passing of Dr. A Mifune Yoichiro Iwasaki
“Though we have lost Mifune-san,his legacy lives on in WINDS” Jinzo Fujino
My Mentor, Dr. Akira Mifune Shoichi Okuyama
36th LES Japan Summer Symposium in Shimane Kazuaki Okimoto
Issue #47 [PDF:306KB] June 2013
Table of contents Author
Making a New Step by Returning to the Starting Point of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) Katsumi Harashima
Exerting Control Over Applicable Prior Art In Transitional US Patent Applications Under The AIA Jacob Doughty
Issue #46 [PDF:618KB] December 2012
Table of contents Author
Discussions on Patent Pools from “Mobile Computing (including IP Issues of Smart phone)” at LES Asia Pacific Regional Conference Tetsuyuki Watanabe
Report of the LES Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2012 in Tokyo Junko Sugimura
1st LES Asian Student Business Plan Competition Finals 2012 Hotel Okura, Tokyo, September 3, 2012 Ichiro Nakatomi
Issue #45 [PDF:612KB] November 2012
Table of contents Author
Correction on each of multiple Claims can be Individually requested ? 2011 Patent Act Revision Mitsuo KARIYA
35th LES Japan Group Summer Symposium in Nagano Kazuaki OKIMOTO
Issue #44 [PDF:258KB] May 2012
Table of contents Author
Greeting from new president Katsumi Harashima
IP News from JapanProminent Authors Sue Scanning Services Companies
The Grand Panel Provides an Interpretation of Product-by-Process Claims
Judge Iimura Becomes the Head of the IP High Court
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #43 [PDF:398KB] November 2011
Table of contents Author
Recent Supreme Court Decision [Hei 20 (Gyo-hi) os. 324 to 326]relating to Patent Term Extension System in Japan Takumi TERACHI
Recent amendments to the Patent Act of Japan
Where a Licensed Patent Right Has Been Transferred - Protection of Non-Exclusive Licensees(Art. 99)
Where a Patent Application Has Been Filed by Non-Entitled Persons - Protection of True Inventors (Art.74)
Where a JPO Panel Decision to Invalidate a Patent Has Been Appealed to IP High Court - Prohibition of Filing with JPO an Action to Amend the Scope of Patent (Art. 126(2))
Where a Court Judgment in Patent Infringement Lawsuit Became Final and Biding - Limitation of Retrial (Art. 104-4)
Where an Invention Becomes Publicly Known As a Result of Proprietor’s Own Act - Exception to Lack of Novelty of Invention (Art. 30(2))
Where a Registered Trademark is Extinguished (e.g.,Nullified, Invalidated) - Abolition of One Year Waiting Period for Application to Register the Identical or
Similar Trademark (Art. 4(1)(xiii) of the Trademark Act)
Miyuka NISHI
Issue #42 [PDF:1MB] February 2011
Table of contents Author
Topic presented at the 2010 LES Germany Meeting “R&D Cooperation between Industry and Universities in Japan” Yoshiaki YAHAGI
IP News from JapanSupreme Court Orders Stop of Location-Free TV Services
Another Batch of Amendments in Sight for the Patent Act
The Yakult Bottle found Registrable as a 3D Trademark
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #41 [PDF:495KB] October 2010
Table of contents Author
Toward Higher “LES ROI” Junichi YAMAZAKI
Propagating Green Technology: A Japan Intellectual Property Association Proposal Naoto KUJI
Cynthia CANNADY
IP News from JapanLaw Schools and Students Face Headwinds
Fourteen-Year-Old Arrested for Copyright Violations
Ex-employee-Inventor Scores a Second Win
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #40[PDF:376KB] July 2010
Table of contents Author
Should Allowability of Corrections be examined for Individual Claims? -Post 2008 Supreme Court Decision Mitsuo KARIYA
IP News from JapanSome Interesting Statistics
JPO Prepares for Amendments of the Patent Act
Shoichi OKUYAMA
“Around the World with LES April 26, 2010,” supporting “World IP Day” of WIPO Kazuaki OKIMOTO
Issue #39 [PDF:81KB] November 2009
Table of contents Author
Heightened Due Diligence by Licensees?
-A Misconception about a Licensed Patent May Not Nullify the License Agreement-
Kei KONISHI
“Post 2010 patent expiry. Strategies and challenges for pharmaceutical companies” Bruno ROSSI
IP News from JapanGenerics Fight IP Headwinds
Qualcomm Dealt with a C&D Order by JFTC
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan Starts with Huge Funding
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #38[PDF:256KB] July 2009
Table of contents Author
UNPRECEDENTED IP HIGH COURT’S JUDGMENTS ON INVENTIVE STEP Junichi YAMAZAKI
Robots and Intellectual Property at the IRT Research Initiative, University of Tokyo Hiro IIDA
IP News from JapanMajor Changes Quietly Introduced
Law Schools Shrink
New Approach toward Inventive Step Emerging?
Rights Organization Hit by the FTC and Fights Back
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #37[PDF:245KB] April 2009
Table of contents Author
Life Cycle Management of Drugs and Patent System in Japan Hiroko EJIRI
Takumi TERACHI
An informative joint meeting was held in Tokyo by Life Sciences Sector Members of LES USA/Canada and LES Japan Ichiro NAKATOMI
IP News from JapanCopyright Law to be Amended
Tokyo District Court Orders Injunction on "Magicon"
The Japanese Patent Law Will Be Entirely Rewritten
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #36[PDF:111KB] December 2008
Table of contents Author
A rebound into a real economy, globally, may come from technical licenses in Japan Toshihiko KANAYAMA
Should Allowability of Correction be examined for Individual Claims? -Supreme Court Decision Mitsuo KARIYA
IP News from JapanResults of 2008 Patent Attorney Exam
Pirated Livestock and Plants
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #35 [PDF:224KB] October 2008
Table of contents Author
Revision of License Registration System by Amendment of Patent Law and Other IP-related Acts Tomoko FUKUDA
Coca-Cola Bottle is Registrable as a 3D Trademark Jinzo FUJINO
IP News from JapanStay Home for Examination Work
New JPO Commissioner Appointed on July 11,2008
"Dubbing Ten" Starts Suddenly on July 4, 2008
Another Defeat for Broadcasters in Fight against
Location-Free TV Services
Other similar cases with different outcomes
Supreme Court Renders Two Patent Decisions
Too late to defend
Change the procedural practice
The Grand Panel of the IP High Court Renders its Fourth Decision
Changes foreseen in amendment practice
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #34 [PDF:224KB] June 2008
Table of contents Author
~ Greetings from the New President ~
My Mission as the LES Japan President
Masau TAKAYANAGI
A Vehicle to a More Active IP Market Place?
-Reform of the Patent License Registration System in Japan
Kei KONISHI
IP News from Japan Trademark fees drastically reduced starting June 1, 2008
Apple cleared for use of the “iPhone” in Japan
University patent applications nearly quadruple in three years
Infringement win rate for patentees improves
Worries about trademarking in China
Shoichi OKUYAMA
Issue #33[PDF:252KB] February 2008
Table of contents Author
Recent Status and Problems of Patent Appeals and Trials: Effects of Recent Reforms in the JPO Appeal System and of Recent Judiciary Reforms (2003-2007), Including the Establishment of an IP High Court Shinjiro ONO
Hindsight or Inventiveness? -A Japanese Perspective Jinzo FUJINO
IP News from JapanChanges coming for patents and trademarks in Japan
Mr. Takagi runs for the head of WIPO
Saga of employee inventors goes on
Patent Prosecution Highway is now established
Shoichi OKUYAMA

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