Japan patent office to help African nations protect intellectual property
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TOKYO - The Japan Patent Office said Tuesday that it will set up a 110 million yen fund later this year to enhance its efforts to help African countries protect and make better use of intellectual property.
The fund will be created at the World Intellectual Property Organization in the form of increasing the current amount of Japan’s voluntary contribution by 1.1 million Swiss francs, or about 110 million yen, in fiscal 2008, the JPO said.
With the fund, the JPO will allow African government officials, business leaders and legal experts to undergo training programmes in cooperation with the African Intellectual Property Organization and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization.
Japan, the world’s top recipient of patent filings based on WIPO’s latest figures, believes that proper protection of intellectual property rights is essential for developing countries to build a self-reliant economy.
Japan has a rich experience in providing assistance in this regard to developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The JPO said it has now decided to expand the scope of its assistance to Africa as it has “high potential for growth.” “Japan’s unique experience and knowledge about intellectual property as a tool for wealth creation should help Africa fully utilize its knowledge for sustainable development,” the JPO said in a statement.
The envisaged fund will form part of Japan’s latest initiative to assist African development, one of the top agenda items at the Group of Eight Summit to be held in Hokkaido in July.
Prior to the summit meeting, Japan will host the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in May.
Japan is hoping to lead discussions on African development to raise its international profile.
Filed by Egor Ouzikov under Other