Overview

In Europe, the introduction of the much anticipated “Unitary Patent” is still proceeding. What are the potential impacts on Japanese enterprises which are major applicants for patents in Europe?
While their introduction in Japan is currently being deliberated, claims to inspect devices or processes which might infringe another party’s IP rights on the premises of an alleged infringing party, play an important role in Europe as a means of gathering evidence for infringement proceedings.
In June of this year, the European Parliament and the Council have adopted the Directive (EU) 2016/943 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure. It aims to standardize the respective national laws in the EU member states. What are the commonalities and differences with the protection of trade secrets under Japanese law?
Employee inventions play an important role particularly in countries with R&D facilities. As many Japanese enterprises conduct research in Germany, the German employee invention law, an overview over the corresponding Japanese law and the inventor landscape in Japan are important topics.
This seminar shall take a closer look at these current relevant developments in intellectual property law in the EU and Japan and provide the opportunity for questions and answers from a panel of expert speakers.

Programme
14:00-14:05 Opening Remarks by Mr. Gabriele Lo Monaco, First Secretary, Trade and Economic Section, Delegation of the European Union to Japan
14:05-14:35 “The EU Unitary Patent System in its current state”
Speaker：Dr. Christian Kau, German Attorney-at-Law, Preu Bohlig & Partner
14:35-15:05 “Right to inspection claims in Germany and France”
Speaker: Dr. Axel Oldekop, German Attorney-at-Law, Preu Bohlig & Partner
15:05-15:15 Questions and Answers

15:15-15:30 Coffee break
15:30-16:20 “The newly adopted EU trade secrets directive and the Japanese law of trade secrets” Speakers: Dr. Axel Oldekop, Preu Bohlig & Partner and Mr. Shogo Matsunaga, Japanese Attorney-at-Law, Sonderhoff & Einsel Law and Patent Office (25 min each)
16:20-17:10 “Employee inventions in Germany and Japan”
Speaker: Dr. Christian Kau, Preu Bohlig & Partner and Mr. Hiroshi Morita, Japanese Patent Attorney, Sonderhoff & Einsel Law and Patent Office (25 min each)
17:10-17:20 Questions and Answers
17:20-17:55 Panel Discussion
Moderator: Mr. Luca Escoffier, EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk, Project Manager, EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
Panelists: Dr. Christian Kau, German Attorney-at-Law, Preu Bohlig & Partner, Dr. Axel Oldekop, German Attorney-at-Law, Preu Bohlig & Partner, Mr. Shogo Matsunaga, Japanese Attorney-at-Law, Sonderhoff & Einsel Law and Patent Office, Mr. Hiroshi Morita, Japanese Patent Attorney, Sonderhoff & Einsel Law and Patent Office
17:55-18:00 Closing Remarks by Mr. Luca Escoffier, Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk Project Manager,
EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
18:00-19:00 Networking Reception