Message from the president

   I would like to deliver a message on assuming office as the president of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) for FY2021.

   First of all, I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences for those who have lost their lives in the unprecedented disaster of COVID-19. Also, I wish to express my deep respect and gratitude to those who are fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic every day to save people’s lives and for the benefit of society.

   Although COVID-19 vaccination has started in Japan, it is expected to take still a long time until the pandemic ends. As JPAA’s president in such a “with corona” era, I am determined to manage the affairs of the association with my utmost efforts, placing top priority on the sound health of JPAA’s members, and aiming to support the economies and industries inside and outside Japan from the intellectual property (IP) aspect.

I. Introduction

1. Rapid shift to a new lifestyle in the “with corona” era

　The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on the economies of the entire world including Japan. For more than a year, national governments around the world have implemented various policies under a delicate balance between suppressing the spread of infection and maintaining and recovering the economy.

　At the same time, a new lifestyle (the new normal) has been advocated as a way to survive in this corona era, and many people are attempting to realize it.

　Under such situation, many new movements have emerged in social activities overall, including business, to make maximum use of information and communications technology, such as web conferencing systems, and to introduce new behavior patterns.

2. Changes in the environment surrounding IP

　The environment of economies and industries using IP has seen dramatic changes. These changes include advancement of the Fourth Industrial Revolution supported by new technologies, such as digital transformation (DX), artificial intelligence (AI), and internet of things (IoT), Japanese companies’ shift of their business from a closed strategy to an open/closed strategy, the rise of nationalism, such as prioritizing “own-country-first” principles, and intensification of global competition.

　Under such circumstances, the number of patent and utility model applications filed, which indicates how actively IP is used, has been on the rise in China, the United States, and other industrialized countries, but the number has fallen substantially in Japan. Although repeated amendments have been made to Japanese IP laws, regulations, and practices, the effects of the amendments have not been demonstrated sufficiently yet.

3. Changes in the environment surrounding patent attorneys

　The environment surrounding patent attorneys has not only changed in terms of IP circumstances. Whereas we have entered an era with the population of patent attorneys reaching approximately 12,000, users have become increasingly selective toward patent attorneys, so competition among patent attorneys has become fiercer than ever.

　Patent attorneys’ activities are expanding beyond patent firms and companies　to also include universities and local governments, and they have come to play more diverse roles in society, such as becoming involved in business strategies using IP.

　With the recent spread of COVID-19 also having an impact on patent attorney’s work, we can say that the environment surrounding patent attorneys is currently at a great turning point.

II. Activity goals for FY2021

　Because of the severe situation we face, we will intensively pursue the following activity goals this fiscal year toward realizing a future society that patent attorneys play an active role in, with enthusiasm to take advantage of the changes in the times.

(1) Proactively making policy recommendations to realize IP systems that are more attractive for users and that better meet the social needs in the “with corona” and post-corona eras

　The social structure is rapidly changing, as exemplified by the emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and open innovations due to advancement of AI, IoT, and other new technologies and the moves to form a society resilient to new infectious diseases like COVID-19. Amid such changes, the ways in which IP systems are used are also changing.

　In order to realize IP systems that are attractive for users and that meet future social needs, and to build a setting in which patent attorneys can play an active role, JPAA will demonstrate strong leadership and make policy recommendations.

(2) Developing an environment that facilitates patent attorneys’ activities, considering the impact of COVID-19

　The IP systems will not function smoothly unless patent attorneys, who are IP experts that lead the IP systems, can fully engage in energetic activities.

　While also taking into consideration the impact of the spread of COVID-19, we will improve patent attorneys’ working environment, and promote development of settings in which patent attorneys can engage in their work safely with a sense of assurance.

(3) Reinforcing the organization and functions of JPAA, which supports the IP systems and the patent attorneys system

　JPAA’s organizational support is essential for the maintenance and development of the IP systems and the patent attorneys system.

　With an active effort to comply with the new lifestyle that responds to COVID-19, we will review JPAA’s existing activities and budget, as well as the role-sharing between JPAA’s regional branches and headquarters, in order to make them adapt to the changing times and environment. In addition, we will achieve organizational and functional reinforcement of the entire association in order to revitalize community-based regional IP.

(4) Actively fostering young human resources who will lead the future patent attorneys system

　In order for the patent attorneys system that supports the IP systems to develop and continue long into the future, it is important to foster human resources, particularly young human resources, who will lead the patent attorneys system.

　We will create and provide various opportunities to enable patent attorneys, who will be responsible for the next generation, to acquire broad experience, improve their qualities, and reskill.

III. Activity restructuring for achieving the activity goals (basic concept)

　By making the most of the current period when various activities are stagnating due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will review JPAA’s overall activities and restructure them. By doing so, we will actively conduct those activities that can be implemented even during the pandemic, and also shift to or create activities that can be conducted even in the post-corona era.

　The basic concept to be adopted in reviewing each activity is as follows.

(1) Evaluating the cost-effectiveness and streamlining activities

　As long as all of JPAA’s activities are financed mainly by the membership fees collected from its members, JPAA has a responsibility to explain the need for and expenses of its activities to its members. In order to maximize the cost-effectiveness of its activities, without wasting valuable financial resources, we will put our heads together and achieve a shift to or creation of more low-cost and effective activities (streamlining of activities), not only in regard to activities of the headquarters, but also those of the regional branches.

(2) Frontline-oriented approach (improving the activity environment for the regional branches)

　The activities of each regional branch are those that are the closest to the people and general business operators among JPAA’s activities. In order to revitalize regional IP, we will resolve the problems facing regional branches as much as possible, and review activity details and the budget so as to invigorate the activities of the regional branches.

(3) Principle of separation between those managing and those conducting activities

　In the past, when JPAA still had a small membership, it may have been an ordinary practice for members to “plan and conduct on one’s own” in carrying out efficient activities. However, now that JPAA has a membership of about 12,000, it needs to plan activities in which more members can participate, and to secure the transparency of the activities.

　To this end, we will ensure separation between the members that operate and manage activities (management) and members that conduct activities, such as lecturers and advisors (players), in principle, and increase the transparency of activities. In addition, we will provide more members with opportunities to participate in JPAA’s activities.

(4) Emphasizing return of results to members

　The patent attorneys system requires all patent attorneys to join JPAA, and the JPAA is obligated to instruct, communicate with, and supervise its members. I believe that the responsibility of JPAA is not to limited to these; it also has a role to improve the qualities of its members and to revitalize the entire patent attorneys business field. For this purpose, we will pass on the knowledge and information gained by each committee to the members as much as possible, and contribute to improving the skills of all members.

IV. Summary

　What is essential in reviewing and restricting JPAA’s activities is the understanding of members. Therefore, we intend to emphasize the process of putting our heads together with members and deriving solutions, while widely sharing information with them. I sincerely ask for your continued support and cooperation so that we can securely move forward step-by-step toward realizing a future society that patent attorneys play a more active role in.