What inspired you to pursue a career in intellectual property, and what advice would you give to the next generation of aspiring IP professionals?

While Japan is a small country with few natural resources, it is rich in technology and creativity.  Products that are labelled as being made in Japan are highly competitive due to their superior quality and cultural exports like manga and games are globally popular. This highlights Japan’s abundant human resources and the significance of intellectual property on the world stage. With a background in engineering, I believed that a career in this field – particularly patents – would enable me to contribute to Japan’s global competitiveness.

The IP realm has broadened significantly since I entered the space nearly 25 years ago and has become even more exciting. I am confident that AI will not replace patent attorneys but instead offer new possibilities, making the field more attractive and dynamic.

You previously spent eight years as a patent examiner at the Japan Patent Office (JPO). How has this experience contributed to your professional development and shaped your current approach to IP strategy?

I examined more than 1,000 patents in information processing and computer software at the JPO. I was also involved in revising patent law, updating examination guidelines and PCT reforms, gaining extensive domestic and international experience. This deeply ingrained into me the fundamentals of intellectual property and expanded my IT technical knowledge.

While at the JPO, I also studied financial engineering at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Economics, which allowed me to approach patents from an economic perspective. I wrote my master’s thesis on IP valuation.

This unique combination of legal, technical and economic expertise has given me a holistic view of intellectual property, enabling me to create well-balanced and effective IP strategies tailored to each company’s specific needs and ensure comprehensive consideration of both the legal framework and economic impact.

What are the key characteristics of a strong intangible asset valuation strategy?

It requires building a robust IP portfolio by combining multiple IP rights – not relying on a single type of right. Protecting a product with just one patent can leave it vulnerable to circumvention and invalidation risks. Using multiple patents offers layered and comprehensive protection.

The concept of an IP mix is not just a strategy, it’s a vital approach. By combining various forms of intellectual property (eg, patents, designs, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and data), broader protection is achieved. This approach allows areas uncovered by one type of IP right to be supplemented by another, resulting in more robust and comprehensive protection, enhancing competitiveness and defence against imitation.

This strategy increases the overall value of the IP portfolio and boosts each asset’s value through synergy.

You have authored work and hosted seminars on space-related patents and IP strategies in the aerospace industry. What are the biggest opportunities and threats that you see emerging in this space, and how can rights holders meet these head on?

While most of my work involves IT-related patents, I have recently received many requests to conduct seminars and write on space-related patents. My involvement with space patents began over a decade ago when I supported a space start-up, which recently went public in Tokyo. This sparked my interest in how to effectively protect space-related inventions.

One key challenge in this area is territoriality – determining which country’s patents apply in space. Detecting and proving patent use is also difficult and makes enforcement uncertain.  Given these issues, keeping space-related inventions as trade secrets may be more practical, even if they are patentable.

However, obtaining patents allows start-ups to demonstrate technical capability and attract investors. These strategic considerations should be weighed carefully when deciding to file patents.

How would you characterise the IP transactions space in Japan at present?

Japan’s strong pro-patentee stance makes it a highly favourable environment for patent holders (see “Japan’s increasingly patentee-friendly environment is good news for IP monetisation”). 

While Japan only sees around 100 patent infringement lawsuits per year, this small number is not an issue. The cultural preference for negotiation and licensing before resorting to litigation reflects the country’s respect for business relationships. Even when cases proceed to court, the prevalence of settlements further demonstrates this cultural norm. 

While patent sales may be limited, IP transactions (eg, licensing) are actively pursued.  Further, large companies are increasingly investing in highly skilled SMEs to facilitate tech transfer and IP collaboration.