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Monetization of Patent Rights (Part 2)

  • September 12, 2024
#intellectual property #patent

　This is a continuation of the previous article. This is a continuation of the typical methods of monetizing patent rights.

5, Litigation and patent infringement warnings

　If another company infringes on your patent rights, you can warn the other company and claim damages by entering into a license agreement with them or by filing a lawsuit against them. However, litigation is time-consuming and expensive and should be done strategically.

6, Building and managing a patent portfolio

　By building a portfolio that combines multiple patent rights (which can include design rights, trademarks, etc.) and proceeding with licensing agreements based on this portfolio, profits can be maximized. Alternatively, the entire portfolio could be sold to a specific company.

7, Participation in patent pools and consortiums

　This is a way to earn licensing fees by participating in a patent pool or consortium and working with other patent holders to license technology to the market. This is particularly effective for patent rights related to standard technologies.

8, Partnering with investors and venture capitalists

　This is a way to monetize patent rights by launching a startup that utilizes the patented technology and obtaining funds from affiliated investors and venture capitalists. If successful, the business based on the patented technology has the potential to generate significant revenues.

9, Leverage tax strategies

　In some cases, tax incentives may be available through the use of patent rights. For example, by utilizing the patent box system (currently not established in Japan), a lower tax rate can be applied to earnings related to patent rights.

　As explained in the above two articles, the ways to monetize patent rights vary depending on the nature of the patent, the market situation, and the company’s strategy, and also vary depending on the country or region where the patent was acquired. By combining the above methods, it is possible to maximize the value of the patent rights (so-called intellectual property rights) acquired in each country.

　If you have any questions or need further advice, please contact us.
(Maruhachi)

Monetization of Patent Rights (Part 1)

  • September 10, 2024
#intellectual property #patent

　There are several possible strategies for businesses to monetize patent rights. Typical methods are listed below.

1, Licensing

　Exclusive license: this is a method of granting a patent right exclusively to a specific company for a license fee. This gives the company an advantage over other competitors.
　Non-exclusive license: a method of obtaining a broad license fee by granting a license to several companies at the same time. License fees tend to be lower than those for exclusive licenses, but it allows diversification of revenues.

2, Cross-licensing

　This is a strategy of exchanging patent rights with another company to make the technology owned by both parties mutually available. This reduces the payment of license fees and the risk of patent infringement and encourages the development of new technologies.

3, Commercialization

　This is a way of earning direct revenues by commercializing the patented technology in-house and offering it to the market as a product or service. This requires manufacturing, sales and marketing capabilities.
　Offering the product, service or business model covered by the patent right to the market on your own (e.g. by implementing the product on your own, using the method on your own) is an inherently basic and core way of implementing a patented invention (the traditional way of utilizing the patent system).
　Commercialization has the potential to maximize the value of the patent.

4, Sale of patent rights

　Selling the patent rights in a lump sum is a way of obtaining immediate capital. It is important to estimate the future value of the patent rights and sell them at an appropriate price. Possible sellers include other companies in the same industry, patent brokers or investors.

　These are some of the ways to monetize (utilize) patent rights, which will be continued in the next article.
(Maruhachi)

About nail clippers

  • September 6, 2024
#design #intellectual property #patent

It’s Swimmer.
The other day, while watching a TV program on new product development failures, I heard a lot of words related to intellectual property, such as ‘patent rights’, ‘infringement’, ‘design rights’, etc. I thought to myself, I usually hear about patents, but in comparison, I don’t hear much about designs.

How to dodge other companies’ intellectual property rights, the hardships of selling new products, and how to strengthen one’s own intellectual property after twists and turns…… were very interesting. I felt that there are more and more opportunities to encounter intellectual property terms even in this kind of variety-style program.

nail clipper

The image shows a nail clipper manufactured by the company featured in the program that has been used in our home for over 40 years. It still cuts very well.

Aomori Nebuta Festival

  • August 28, 2024
#trademark

During the summer, various festivals are held all over Japan, and one festival in particular that I have long been interested in is the Aomori Nebuta Festival. This year I was able to go to the “Aomori Nebuta Festival” for the first time and participate as a haneto (dancer).

Nebuta festivals are held in various locations, especially in Aomori Prefecture, but the “Aomori Nebuta Festival” that I attended this time is held every year from August 2 to 7 in Aomori City. It is considered one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan.

On most days, more than 20 groups parade through the city, with the giant lanterns called “Nebuta” playing the central role, and the musicians consisting of drummers, flutes, and hand gongs, and the haneto, who call out “rassera, rassera” to enliven the scene. Anyone can participate in the haneto without reservations as long as they are dressed in formal attire, making it possible to enjoy the festival on a grand scale even more. This year, approximately 117,000 people participated as haneto over the six days of the festival.

The daytime Nebuta is a sight to behold, but seeing the giant lanterned Nebuta moving around at night is a very moving experience.

Nebuta

Even outside of the Aomori Nebuta Festival period, you can see some of this year’s Nebuta at the Nebuta House Wa Rasse. Also, “Kishibojin” by Asako Kitamura, winner of this year’s Nebuta Grand Prize, will be on display at EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.

Nebuta

A quick J-PlatPat search on “Aomori Nebuta Festival” revealed that the trademark was registered on November 27, 1986 (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 1909292) for the designated goods of “meat products, processed marine products, processed vegetables and fruits, soy milk, tofu, frozen tofu, fried tofu, konnyaku, natto”. The right holder is Yamamoto Shokuhin, which manufactures “Nebutazuke”, a well-known product in Aomori.
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/TR/JP-1984-043580/40/en

Nebutazuke

This “Nebutazuke” can also be purchased in Aichi Prefecture from vending machines installed in Nisshin City. (Syszo)

The Yellow and White Paper

  • August 21, 2024
#design #intellectual property #patent #trademark

My family and I often go to “Kura Sushi” in our neighborhood.
However, it is always crowded, and we often have to wait even if we have a reservation.
One day, when we were waiting in the restaurant to be called as usual, I happened to see a familiar piece of paper displayed in a frame behind the waiting seat where I happened to sit.

a patent certificate and a registration certificate

What a surprise…a patent certificate and a registration certificate Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ！
I said to my family, “Look! There are patent and registration certificates!” (laugh).
It was the first time I noticed them at Kura Sushi, a place I have visited many times, and I was a little happy to encounter them in such a familiar place.

With 35 patents, 15 designs, and 531 trademarks, you can see that Kura Sushi Co. puts a lot of effort into intellectual property. (Rabbit)

Toward Zero Heat Stroke

  • August 13, 2024
#trademark

　The other day, I bought some salted kelp with the “Toward Zero Heat Stroke Project Official Item 2024” logo on it. I checked J-PlatPat and found that the Japan Weather Association had obtained a trademark registration related to “Toward Zero Heat Stroke” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5638669,6672449).

　Project partners included Kurakon’s “Salt Kelp,” Aquarius, Asazuke-no-moto, Salt Charge Tablet, and other foods that can easily replenish salt and minerals, as well as sundries such as the Biore Cold Series.

Kurakon's Salt Kelp

　I like to eat salted kelp with cabbage, cucumbers, and other vegetables with sesame oil. I eat it all year round, but in summer I will use it more actively in my cooking to survive the hot summer to avoid heat stroke. (Marron)

　Heat Stroke Zero Official Website
　https://www.netsuzero.jp/en/

Himeyukari

  • August 7, 2024
#trademark

The other day, when I was looking for a snack that I could eat in one bite, “Himeyukari” by BANKAKU Co., Ltd caught my eye. The taste is guaranteed, and the cute package attracted me, so I decided to buy it.

Himeyukari

It comes in a pink and white colored box.

Himeyukari

There is a special paper bag for “Himeyukari” that matches the size of the box.

Himeyukari

The cute bite-sized pieces of Yukari are lined up in a row.

“Himeyukari” is not only sure of its taste, but also has a gorgeous package, so it is likely to be a popular snack to bring to gatherings in the future.

“Himeyukari” was registered as a trademark on July 31, 1992 (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 2439143), designating “confectionery and bread”.

(Sakuramochi)

Early Detection of Cancer by Urine Test “miSignal”

  • July 31, 2024
#patent #trademark

　“miSignal” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6548820), a cancer risk test, has been newly added as an optional test this year in the regular health checkups that our firm employees receive.

miSignal

　This test analyzes microRNAs contained in urine and enables early detection of five types of cancer in men (lung, stomach, colon, esophagus, and pancreas) and seven types of cancer in women (ovary and breast cancer). When I took the test for the first time, I received a 20-page test result report following the page in the photo below.

miSignal report

　Craif Inc, which operates the test, is a venture company from Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (Nagoya University). By using an exosome extraction device with zinc oxide nanowires, it is now possible to detect a wide variety of microRNAs from a small amount of urine. The invention of “body fluid extract containing microRNA” disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-92688 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-123592 (divisional application) is presumably related to this technology.

　We hope that the miSignal test will be widely used and that many people will be able to extend their healthy life expectancy through early detection of cancer risk. (Conan)

　(Reference site)
https://misignal.jp/ (Japanese only)
https://craif.com/en/

Speaking of Toyohashi’s Specialty…

  • July 24, 2024
#Regional Collective Trademark #trademark

In early June, I had a chance to visit Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture and in the evening after finishing my business, I wanted to eat something gourmet from Toyohashi! I decided to try “Toyohashi Curry Udon” for the first time.
According to the “Five Articles of Toyohashi Curry Udon (Japanese Only),” the main features of this dish are that it contains rice, grated yam, and curry udon noodles in that order from the bottom of the bowl, and that it uses a quail egg produced in Toyohashi.
Different stores seem to offer a variety of “Toyohashi Curry Udon” and the one we had was topped with a deep-fried quail egg, hash browns, and cheese.
The inclusion of rice allowed us to eat the curry roux without leaving any of it behind, so we were quite full. It was very tasty.
“Toyohashi Curry Udon” is a regional collective trademark (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5990959) of the Toyohashi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Toyohashi Curry Udon

An illustration card of a Capcom character eating Toyohashi Curry Udon was on the tray. The card reads “CAPCOM TRIP TOKAI” and appears to be part of a collaboration project between JR Tokai and Capcom.

CAPCOM TRIP TOKAI

After-dinner desserts are also available♪
Speaking of Toyohashi sweets, “Pirene” is one of them.
We bought some at the Bon Toraya main store and headed home with great satisfaction.
“Pirene” is a registered trademark (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6137384) of Bon Toraya Co.

Bon Toraya Pirene

Hunny Pirene also had Capcom characters on it.
I checked “CAPCOM TRIP TOKAI” and found that a collaboration project titled “Let’s go hunting in Toyohashi” is being held until July 31, and it looks like you can enjoy exploring the city of Toyohashi with the digital stamp rally “TOYOHASHI QUEST”.
CAPCOM TRIP TOKAI Toyohashi, Let’s go hunting! (Japanese Only)

After returning home, I had a Pirene.
The bean paste butter Pirene was also delicious.
The fluffy texture was great♪ (Cacao)

”Snack-like Tomato” created by a confectionery shop

  • July 17, 2024
#trademark

Chunichi Building fully opened in Sakae, Nagoya on April 23 this year (2024).
Chunichi Building official website (Japanese only) (chunichi-building.jp)
For some reason, tomatoes are sold at the Japanese and Western confectionery stores that have opened here.
The tomatoes are made by Ena Kawakamiya, a company that manufactures and sells sweets using chestnuts, a local specialty, in Ena City, Gifu, in cooperation with local chestnut growers.

Okashina Tomato (Snack-like Tomato)

The secret of its deliciousness:
By reducing the water content to less than half of the normal level, the tomatoes store nutrients in the fruit and increase the sugar content in the small fruit. Pesticides are kept to a minimum.
Tomatoes are harvested at full ripeness and shipped on the same day.
Selected for high sugar content by sugar content sensor.

More impressive than the sweetness was the richness of the tomato flavor.
If you are interested, why not give it a try?
(Time)

Registered trademark:
Trademark : Okashina Tomato (Snack-like Tomato)
Registration No. : No. 6403613
Registration Date : June 17, 2021
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/TR/JP-2019-151717/40/en

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