Intellectual Property Management
Initiatives
Development of Human Resources for IP
In addition to personnel transfers within the Corporate Intellectual Property and Legal Headquarters, Canon encourages active sharing of IP-related human resources in both directions between Canon Inc. and Group companies worldwide. Such exchanges promote the sharing of knowledge and the creation of an integrated culture, which makes for stronger IP activities across Canon while also supporting the professional development of employees in the field.
Our IP Division also loans a few employees to central government agencies and other outside organizations every year. Along with contributing in such areas as policy-making, this arrangement helps Canon cultivate IP-related human resources with a broad-based outlook and a medium- to long-term perspective based on experience gained outside the Canon Group.
Leading the IP world
Canon actively seeks to be a leader in the IP world. In 2014, Canon, Google and four other companies took the initiative to found the License on Transfer (LOT) Network that aims to restrict the threat of patent troll litigation. The number of companies becomingmembers of this network has grown each year, and was over 3,800 as of March 2024. Since 2019, Canon has also been a partner in WIPO GREEN, an international framework operated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for the exchange of green technologies. Aiming to widen recognition and utilization of Canon’s environmental conservation technologies, we registered the bioplastics-related technologies and recycled plastic-related technologies.
As a company aggressively using IPs for global business development, Canon contributes to the development of the intellectual property ecosystem. For example, we IP members in Canon hold key positions in intellectual property-related organizations such as the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) and Licensing Executives Society JAPAN and make policy recommendations to governmental organization via the intellectual property-related organizations.