Basic Concept of Intellectual Property
Throughout its long history, Fujikura has valued an enterprising spirit and has produced many innovative products that have met the needs of the times.Fujikura prides itself on being "Fujikura, a Technology Leader" and has strongly promoted research and development activities.
On the other hand, in recent years, in order to succeed in business, it is not enough to simply provide new technology; it is also necessary to identify issues that society truly needs and provide innovative total solutions to resolve those issues. In promoting such business activities, there are increasing opportunities to effectively utilize intellectual property, and there are high expectations for this utilization in the future.
Against this backdrop, Fujikura's Intellectual Property Department is working towards its mission of "integrating and aligning intellectual property strategy with business and development strategy, and building business competitive advantage through the power of intellectual property." We believe that intellectual property is an effective means of securing a competitive advantage in future business development, and will continue to play an important role. While closely supporting development and business activities, we are creating a system that naturally and effectively incorporates intellectual property strategy into business promotion strategy, and we are also anticipating actions that will be required in the future and making preparations to ensure their execution, with the aim of contributing significantly to the success of business.
Based on this belief, Fujikura has established the following four perspectives as its basic policy for intellectual property activities.
Basic Policy for Intellectual Property Activities
-
01Optimal intellectual property protection
/ Acquisition of strong rightsWe determine the appropriate form of protection for developed technologies, such as patenting or confidentiality, taking into consideration their nature and function. In particular, we are conscious of differentiated technologies that will be key to supporting future business from the early stages of development, and determine the form of protection while considering future applications, striving to secure the necessary strong rights. In order to advance Fujikura's business advantageously, we believe that properly protected intellectual property or its rights is strategy essential, and that preparatory discussions should take place from the early stages of development. -
02Based on proper risk assessment
strategy use of intellectual property rightsWhen we acquire intellectual property rights, we consider how to utilize them in policy with our business activities while thoroughly assessing the risks of other parties' rights. We take appropriate legal action against counterfeit products, whether in developed or emerging countries, and actively pursue contracts such as licenses and collaborative development for the development of Fujikura's business, including open innovation. Risk assessments of other parties' rights are important for the smooth running of business activities, so we involve external experts to conduct them as early and rigorously as possible. -
03Ensuring the effectiveness of strategy
Information AnalysisTo strategy protect, acquire, and utilize intellectual property, prior research and analysis is essential to ensure that intellectual property can be used effectively. To ensure business success, in addition to traditional research into clearance and patent validity, it is necessary to obtain and analyze accurate information on the market trends, competitive environment, and patent positions of each player in the business. We promote IP landscape activities to collect information from multiple perspectives, and share the results of that analysis to help formulate profitable strategy. -
04Raising awareness of intellectual property strategy and
Establishment of governance systemSince discussions on strategy involve people from a variety of positions, ensuring that each person has sufficient knowledge that forms the basis of strategy planning not only leads to the generation of diverse strategy ideas, but also to the reduction of risk. Therefore, in our internal awareness-raising activities, we will focus on education on intellectual property strategy in addition to education on the legal system, with the aim of fostering a culture in which methods for effectively utilizing intellectual property are discussed. Furthermore, as a consistent approach to intellectual property strategy is necessary for Fujikura Group, we will establish an intellectual property governance system for group companies both in Japan and overseas and promote comprehensive management of intellectual property risks.
Integration of intellectual property strategy and business /development strategy
In order to integrate intellectual property strategy with business and development strategy, we believe that an open organization structure that allows information to be shared in a timely manner is extremely important.
At Fujikura, for each of our major business, we hold regular joint meetings attended by members of business units and intellectual property unit to discuss the handling of intellectual property related to that business. At these meetings, we share information on business strategy and intellectual property strategy, clarify issues regarding intellectual property activities in implementing business strategy, and confirm plans and progress of intellectual property strategy activities that are in line with business strategy.
Similarly, each R&D unit aiming for future business also holds regular joint meetings with members of the intellectual property unit. By bringing together unit R&D and intellectual property unit to discuss intellectual property strategy from the early stages of development, we are able to identify and acquire rights to fundamental intellectual property that can make a significant contribution to future business. This is also an effective activity that allows us to implement risk avoidance measures regarding the rights of other companies at an early stage.
Promoting intellectual property strategy activities
To secure a competitive advantage in business by utilizing intellectual property, it is necessary to vigorously promote activities in line with the intellectual property strategy that was initially formulated, while also being able to flexibly modify or change the intellectual property strategy if the development strategy for business changes.Fujikura takes this possibility into consideration and carries out intellectual property strategy activities using its own management method to ensure the effectiveness of its intellectual property strategy.
Fujikura's R&D unit has adopted the new "ISO 56002: innovation Management System (IMS)" management methodology with the aim of efficiently fostering innovation as organization, and believes that intellectual property strategy activities should also be conducted in accordance with this methodology. Fujikura has therefore adopted the concepts of "ISO 56005: Tools and methods for intellectual property management," which was establishment based on the IMS standard, and is systematically managing its intellectual property strategy activities. Specifically, by defining the intellectual property activities that should be carried out at each stage of R&D and linking them with IMS, we are conducting intellectual property strategy activities in tandem with R&D activities. This methodology enables flexible intellectual property strategy activities that reliably create a portfolio of intellectual property and related rights that will provide a future business competitive advantage before business.
Number of patents held and applications filed
Number of domestic patents held
Number of overseas patents held
Number of domestic patent applications and global application rate
