Reportage - Seminar on Internet of Things (IoT) and 3D printing in IP

IoT and 3D Printing, which are some of the hottest areas in current technological development, will allow virtually all electronic devices to communicate with each other, and facilitate the production of customized, even single piece products or prototypes. IoT will impact not only devices such as telephones and cars, but also infrastructure such as security systems, logistical systems, and door locks, etc. It will affect our daily life in almost every aspect by drastically accelerating the rate of digitalization and changing people's interaction with electric devices.

3D printing technology will allow for products to be created directly in the home of the customer. Although IoT and 3D printing are technologies of utmost importance, it is questionable, whether the existing framework of Intellectual Property ("IP") is suited to offer the necessary protection for innovations in these technical fields. 3D Printing may require the IP system to be adapted thereto because private manufacturing, or 3D copying which will be enabled by 3D printing, are exempted from the exclusive right of the IP system. Further, the increasing digitalization, connected with IoT enhances the need for protection of the corresponding software, communication devices and maybe even business models, which seem to be hardly possible with the current IP system. However, the history of the IP system tells us that the IP system itself is developed with each new technological area that arises.

The seminar held on March 1st 2018, at the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, therefore threw a light on how the new technologies of IoT and 3D printing may benefit from the current IP system and reciprocally, how the IP system has to be adapted to such cutting-edge technologies.

Live stream recordings

We were live on the EU-Japan Technology Transfer Heldesk's YouTube channel!  Subscribe

Speakers' Presentations

Feel free to download all the speaker's presentations.

1st - Brief Introduction of IoT and 3D Printing and Present Status of Patent Applications in Japan
2nd - Present State of IoT and 3D printing in Europe and Status of Patent Applications in the Field
3rd - IoT and Standard Essential Patent in Japan
4th - New IP Challenges of IoT and their impact on business in Europe
5th - New Issues in IP System Related to 3D Printing and their impacts on business in Japan
6th - New IP Challenges of 3D Printing and their impacts on business in Europe

Photos

Finally, some pictures of the event.



 

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