知的財産戦略本部、AI時代の知的財産権検討会〔中間とりまとめ〕の公表

Japanese police have arrested an alleged first uploader on Nyaa, the torrent index at the heart of anime piracy, marking a strategic shift from blocking sites to targeting source distributors. Using attribution tools developed under CODA's Cross-Border Enforcement Project, investigators identified and detained a Kanagawa resident suspected of seeding an NHK drama and numerous other works. This case signals a new enforcement approach focused on chokepoints in the distribution chain rather than endless domain

This case concerns the similarity of characters that appear in online games. Although several characters were the subject of this litigation, the court ruled...

The Japan Patent Office's 2026 Status Report reveals a significant 17% surge in patent applications driven by an unusual December filing spike, while registration rates and examination timelines remain stable.

In this article, we will clarify the current status and challenges of technology transfer at Japanese universities, focusing on TLOs, and how research results at universities are utilized.

Each country has its own patent practice. The Japanese patent practice also has some unique aspects.

On May 27, 2025, the Intellectual Property High Court of Japan awarded plaintiff Toray Industries, Inc. ("Toray") ¥21.76 billion (US$151 million; €133 million) in damages for patent infringement by defendants Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Sawai") and Fuso Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. ("Fuso").

Because Japan applies a strict first-to-file rule, opportunistic filers often racing to register brands before the rightful owners can act. If you don't secure protection early, you risk rebranding...

. . . However, the qualifying language, "unmodified existing," proved to be an unfortunate choice of words. . . .

In Cytiva BioProcess R&D AB v. JSR Corp., No. 2023-2074, the Federal Circuit addressed obviousness challenges to multiple patents related to affinity chromatography, clarifying when a "lead compound" inquiry may be substituted with an "obvious-to-try" analysis and when the presence of inherent properties may obviate the need to demonstrate a reasonable expectation of success.

Over the past several months, a debate over a website hosting free (pirated) manga (Japanese comic) content, Mangamura("Manga Village") and similar sites.

On April 9, 2025, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") announced an amendment to the regulations related to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act ("FEFTA") to catch-all export controls.

On March 28, 2025, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry jointly published...

On April 1, 2025, certain amendments to the Act on Childcare Leave, Caregiver Leave, and Other Measures for the Welfare of Workers Caring for Children or Other Family Members ("these Amendments")...

重要経済安保情報保護活用法は、正式名称を「重要経済安保情報の保護及び活用に関する法律（令和6年法律第27号）」といい、経済安全保障&

In an effort to increase artificial intelligence ("AI") and Metaverse business in Japan, the government has enacted new legislation and established various supporting guidelines in recent years.

Since the introduction of the Feed-in-Tariff ("FIT") scheme in 2012, a large number of renewable power plants, mainly solar power plants, have been developed and operated in Japan.

Do foreign lenders (including non-bank foreign lenders) require a licence/regulatory approval to lend into your jurisdiction or take the benefit of security over assets located in your jurisdiction?

On September 17, 2024, the Financial Services Agency released the "Points to Note Regarding Disclosure of a Tender Offer" (the "Guidelines") with regard to prior consultations with the authorities on disclosure.

This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Alternative Investment Funds laws and regulations applicable in Japan.

Previously, Japanese labor laws and regulations required employers to pay wages to their workers only in cash or by transfer into the workers' bank accounts or other similar accounts at financial...