Partnership
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.
High-level meeting with JPO
On March 9, 2022, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Canon exchanged views on intellectual property strategies and other topics. Kiyoshi Mori, JPO Commissioner, Fujio Mitarai, Chairman & CEO of Canon, and Kenichi Nagasawa, Group Executive of the Corporate Intellectual Property and Legal Headquarters of Canon, participated in the meeting.
JPO explained it's priority supporting measures for IP activities and management toward the creation of innovation. Canon explained how it is incorporating intellectual property strategies into corporate management.
Furthermore, views were actively exchanged on a wide range of intellectual property issues, such as the introduction of the non-disclosure system for patent, the international jurisdiction issues related to standard-essential patents, the enhancement of the global presence of the Japan Patent Office and the Intellectual Property High Court, the efforts toward intellectual property governance and the issues related to trademarks and shared patents.
High-level meeting with EPO
On October 21, 2021 the EPO hosted a high-level meeting with Canon. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that the meeting had to be conducted virtually but a major benefit was to open up the meeting to a wider range of participants including staff and managers from Canon Inc. in Tokyo, Canon Europe in London, Canon Production Printing in Venlo and Axis Communications in Lund, Sweden, as well as EPO delegates from the Hague and Munich offices.
The Canon delegation was led by Kenichi Nagasawa, Group Executive of the Corporate Intellectual Property and Legal Headquarters. The EPO delegation was led by the EPO President Antonio Campinos, who reported on recent developments in the EPO. Presentations were made by the President and by Stephen Rowan, Vice-President Directorate-General Patent Granting Process, Nellie Simon, Vice-President Directorate-General Corporate Services, and Christoph Ernst, Vice-President Directorate-General Legal/International Affairs on the progress made in their respective areas too. Canon was reassured to hear how robust and adaptable the EPO had been against the challenging backdrop of the global pandemic.
Mr. Nagasawa presented Canon's business and IP strategies, Mr. Iketa presented Canon's filing strategy & technology and they gave Canon's high-level feedback and requests to the EPO, recognizing the EPO's significant progress in recent years in reducing pendency times of Canon's EP applications. Matthew Hitching, Canon Europe's head of IP, introduced “strictness” as a new major discussion theme between the EPO and Canon, noting what Canon perceives to be stricter approaches in the EPO compared to other IP5 offices in areas such as amendment practice, clarity, user-interface inventions, Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal and description amendments, as well as exploring what might be the causes of this strictness.
Through meetings with patent offices around the world, Canon contributes to improving the operation of the global intellectual property system.
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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