Japan expert committee considering whether service Providers should pay product licensing fees

On the 9th of July, the Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun reported that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) is considering designing a system for the payment of licensing fees. In particular, it would require businesses that provide services using a final product, such as a car or smartphone, to also pay licensing fees for the patents used in said automobiles, smartphones, and other products. There have been complaints about the current system in which the licensing fees are borne solely by the manufacturer, despite the fact that service providers are profiting from the same patent.  Based on the results from an expert panel, the JPO will consider whether the patent law should be revised. As the next generation of businesses, such as in-vehicle communication services, are developing, these issues are becoming more and more important. Continue Reading