Partnership
Participation as a founding member of the Intellectual Property Open Access Declaration Against COVID-19
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread around the world in 2020. Lockdowns were carried out in many parts of the world to prevent the spread of infection, and states of emergency have been declared in Japan. These measures have had a major impact on people's lives and business activities around the world. Canon, together with Professor Fumihiko Matsuda of Kyoto University and others, has worked to provide proactive support from the aspect of intellectual property to overcome this crisis. In April 2020, under the first declaration of a state of emergency in Japan, Canon immediately made a proactive approach to various companies to solicit their support. At the same time, Canon prepared a template for a declaration that could be customized to each company's circumstances so that many companies could participate.
On May 1, 2020, the "Intellectual Property Open Access Declaration Against COVID-19" was announced, with 20 companies and universities as founding members. This declaration states that a company will not exercise its intellectual property rights against any development, manufacturing and other activities for the sole purpose of ending the spread of COVID-19 infections. This makes it possible to quickly carry out manufacturing and other activities aimed at ending the spread of COVID-19 without concern about intellectual property rights issues.
This declaration is a world-leading initiative originating in Japan, and with the cooperation and support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Japan Secretariat, the Japan Business Federation, and other organizations, many companies and research institutions have announced their participation. (As of May 2021: 102 declarants.) Going forward, by gathering more participating companies, Canon will contribute through intellectual property to ending the spread of COVID-19.
(As of May 31, 2021)
Other projects
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Advancing the IP system in Japan and beyond by participation in government committees and study groups
Canon's Intellectual Property professionals often participate in government committees and study groups, and make various recommendations and proposals to such bodies as a global company.
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Committee activities and opinion sharing of executives of corporate organizations
Kenichi Nagasawa, Head of Corporate Intellectual Property and Legal Headquarters Managing Executive Officer, Canon Inc., holds positions in a number of organizations in the intellectual property industry, including as Chairman, Sub-Committee on Policy Planning, Committee on Intellectual Property of Keidanren, Vice Chairperson of the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), and President of the Licensing Executives Society JAPAN.
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Exchange opinions with patent offices around the world
Through meeting with patent offices around the world, Canon contributes to improvement of the operation of the global intellectual property system.
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Participation as a founding member of the Intellectual Property Open Access Declaration Against COVID-19
IP activities to contribute to ending the spread of COVID-19.
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Leading the IP world in measures against PAEs
Canon established LOT network in collaboration with five companies including Google. The LOT network protects member companies from patent litigations by PAEs.
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