The official Sponsor of Tsukuba Conference 2019

Sonoda & Kobayashi is now the official sponsor of the Tsukuba Conference of 2019.

Tsukuba Conference is designed for young researchers, entrepreneurs and other young experts in various fields to share their ideas to enhance a deeper understanding of the future of science and technology, and on the wide range of challenges and solutions that science and technology can generate in relation to the global society.

By bringing together approximately five hundred future leaders from all over the globe to Tsukuba Science City, Tsukuba Conference will provide them a platform to discuss and debate issues, to put together action plans and proposals in the course of their discussions, and to reach out to the global community.

In particular, this year’s conference is aimed to enrich relevant discussion on “How do science, technology and innovation contribute to achieving Society 5.0 and SDGs”, concerning various topics on health, medical and social systems, as well as contribution by cutting-edge science and technology in the context of Society 5.0 and SDG.

The conference will be held from October 2rd to October 4th at
Tsukuba International Congress Center.

10th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference (CIPAC)

We will attend the 10th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference (CIPAC), from September 2nd to September 3rd in Hangzhou, China.

We are pleased to announce that we will have a booth and that Dr. Yoshitaka Sonoda will give a speech titled “Differences between JPO, CNIPA and EPO in Substantive Examination at Opposition/Appeal Stages”.

For more event details, please visit the website.

If you would like to arrange a meeting during the conference, please do not hesitate to contact us at IAD@patents.jp.

Webinar — Patents: Patentability of Software Inventions and AI – Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends

Sonoda & Kobayashi Intellectual Property Law Firm presents our latest webinar, titled ‘Patents: Patentability of Software Invention and AI-Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends in Germany, Japan and other European jurisdictions’, in collaboration with the EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk and Murgitroyd’s Munich office.

In this webinar, we will cover:

— The patentability requirements and legal basis for software and AI related inventions in Japan and Europe

— The subject matter eligibility and examination guidelines for such inventions

— Case examples of AI-related inventions in Japan

— The protection of AI-related inventions in European Jurisdictions

Speakers: Dr.sc. Robert Börner (Murgitroyd) and Sarvajit Patil (Sonoda & Kobayashi) Moderator: Luca Escoffier (EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk)

Organiser: EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation – Brussels Office

This webinar was held on June 28th, 2018. You can see the video from the following the link here.

Webinar — Patents: Patentability of Software Inventions and AI – Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends

Sonoda & Kobayashi Intellectual Property Law Firm presents our latest webinar, titled ‘Patents: Patentability of Software Invention and AI-Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends in Germany, Japan and other European jurisdictions’, in collaboration with the EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk and Murgitroyd’s Munich office.

In this webinar, we will cover:

— The patentability requirements and legal basis for software and AI related inventions in Japan and Europe

— The subject matter eligibility and examination guidelines for such inventions

— Case examples of AI-related inventions in Japan

— The protection of AI-related inventions in European Jurisdictions

Speakers: Dr.sc. Robert Börner (Murgitroyd) and Sarvajit Patil (Sonoda & Kobayashi) Moderator: Luca Escoffier (EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk)

Organiser: EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation – Brussels Office

This webinar was held on June 28th, 2018. You can see the video from the following the link here.

Webinar –“Patents: Patentability of Software Invention and AI-Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends”

Sonoda & Kobayashi is pleased to announce our next joint webinar between our firm and the European firm Murgitroyd about Patents: Patentability of Software Invention and AI-Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends in Germany, Japan and other European jurisdictions.

The Webinar is scheduled on June 28th, 2019, at 10:00 AM CET.

We would like to invite anyone who is interested in this topic to attend the webinar. Please register by Thursday, 27th June, 2019 by following the link here.

We look forward to your presence online on Friday, 28th June 2019.

IPBC Global

We will attend IPBC Global 2019 from June 16th to June 18th in Boston, USA.

For more event details, please visit the website.

If you would like to arrange a meeting during the conference, please do not hesitate to contact us at IAD@patents.jp.

Dr. Yoshitaka Sonoda has been ranked in IAM 1000 for patent prosecution

Ranked among the top Patent Prosecutors, Dr. Sonoda is recommended by IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2019. Read more about his extensive experience and knowledge in the field, by accessing the link.

Sonoda & Kobayashi Intellectual Property Law has been ranked in IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2019

Sonoda & Kobayashi IP Law is ranked among the top firms in Asia for the prosecution and enforcement of IP rights and recommended by IAM Patent 1000 for offering a unique combination of professional expertise and cosmopolitan awareness.

Read the full profile by clicking on the link.

Our new partner and director

We are pleased to announce that Harumi Kokaji became a partner of the firm and Yoko Nagatomo became a director as of April 1, 2019.

Webinar — Patents: Employee Inventions – Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends.

Sonoda & Kobayashi Intellectual Property Law Firm presents our latest webinar, titled ‘Patents: Overview of Legal Systems and Recent Trends’, in collaboration with the EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk and Murgitroyd’s Munich office.

 In this webinar, we will cover:

・ The basics of the different legal systems on employee inventions and remuneration in Japan and several European jurisdictions;

・ Who owns the right to an invention and how a company can take possession of an invention; What defines adequate remuneration for inventors; and

・The potential pitfalls for companies performing R&D.

 Speakers: Dr.sc. Robert Börner (Murgitroyd) and Dr. Akira Fujii (Sonoda & Kobayashi) Moderator: Luca Escoffier (EU-Japan Technology Transfer Helpdesk)

 Organiser: EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation – Brussels Office

 This webinar was held on December 17th, 2018. You can see the video from the following the link here.