JFTC Publishes Final Guidelines Concerning Use Of Intellectual Property

On September 28, 2007, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") published new "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Intellectual Property" (Chiteki Zaisan no Riyo ni Kansuru Dokusenkinshiho Jo no Shishin) (the "IP Guidelines").¹

The IP Guidelines provide insight into how the JFTC views intellectual property licensing practices, and particularly provides insight into the circumstances under which certain types of licensing practices might run afoul of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act (the "AMA"). While the JFTC recognizes in the IP Guidelines that intellectual property licenses and licensing practices are generally procompetitive, the IP Guidelines also contain cautionary language that potentially could have a significant impact on certain common licensing practices: