Until just two years ago, Japan held firm in second place in terms of international patent applications, with only the US ahead of them. In 2018, China has taken this mantle.
In fact, China outstripped Japan last year, according to data from the World Intellectual Property Organisation. It’s the first time China has managed to reach the number two slot. This development has had Japan policy makers worried as it’s long been imperative to keep up with China in terms of technological advances.
Patent powerhouse
China has become such a powerhouse in terms of patent applications due to an aggressively planned approach. They are pushing corporations to aggressively and consistently file for patents in the West and introduced IP education at some schools during 2015.
During the academic year in 2020, Beijing plans to select 100 schools as models for IP education, followed by provincial governments selecting a further 1,000 schools. It’s this part of China’s strategy that is being taken up by the Japanese government.
Children’s creativity
This approach recognises that children can have fresh ideas that can surprise adults with their sophistication and real-life utilisation. Combining youthful creativity and adult knowhow to turn ideas into IP or products and services seems to be a good policy.
For example, an 11-year-old called Hitomi Hirabayashi was granted a patent on a bike parking system in November 2017. Her idea involved adjusting the space between racks using magnetic force to make it simpler to pull bikes free. Her invention uses magnetic force so that bikes can slide away from a bike that is being extracted from the rack, and then slide back into position.
Her father is a patent attorney and transformed his child’s idea into a patent. Although he undoubtedly helped the process, she prepared the patent application documents on her own. Her father said: “I tried to give her minimum assistance. I only told her how to proceed with the application process and was present when she submitted her documents.”
Encouraging children
Hitomi isn’t the only child who has been awarded a patent, with parents routinely encouraging their children to learn about the process. Some have taken this even further, with one child and father team launching a company specifically to help young inventors apply for patents and commercialise their work.
The company’s name is Yakuni-tatsumono-tsukuro, which translates as “Let’s create something useful” and its goal is to help obtain patents for ideas that spring out of school projects.
Community events
The Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation also works to encourage innovation among community circles for children. Around 9,000 children across Japan have taken part in its events.
This idea of older people creating scenarios that allow children to free their creativity is a role the government is now stepping into as well. The Japan Patent Office has produced an online guide (JPO Kids Page) in Manga style to show kids that inventing is fun. One page has simple FAQs concerning patents and another offers information on the development of patents. It’s expected this will be used in schools and homes and is downloadable as a free e-book.
Curriculum guidelines were also revised in March last year, asking elementary and junior high schools to voluntarily start teaching IP in the 2018 academic year, which began in April. Starting in 2020, elementary school text books will include IP matters. A year later, junior high textbooks will follow suit.
Planning ahead
These initiatives, according to Japan’s Intellectual Property Strategy Promotion Bureau, are to “foster the abilities to create new things from the questions and challenges that emerge every day, not just offer detailed information, such as how to receive a patent.”
And it’s all for the long game, of course. It’s hoped that by starting IP education young and encouraging an atmosphere of creativity and invention, in the future Japanese companies will be increasingly competitive.
IP law
If the world of Intellectual Property fascinates you, and you’re looking to get started within the niche sector of law that covers this area, then at Dawn Ellmore Employment, we can help. We have a range of positions available across all levels of IP law, including trainee patent attorney roles and entry level support roles. Contact the team here to find out more.