Our Approach
Recognizing intellectual property as an important management resource, Mitsui Kinzoku Group has set out a basic policy of properly protecting rights, securing advantage in business and using it for new business creation, minimizing risk associated with intellectual property, developing human resources to support implementation of the intellectual property strategy, and establishing respect for intellectual property as part of the corporate culture.
Based on the basic policy, we will implement the intellectual property strategy to maximize our corporate value.
Management Structure
The Intellectual Property Department plays a central role in managing intellectual property in the Group. The department holds regular meetings with the director in charge to share information on activities related to intellectual property.
In April 2022, we reorganized the IP management structure. The reorganization relocates intellectual property specialists to the department while maintaining cooperation with the respective business operations to make possible diverse services, including sophisticated analysis of intellectual property data using IP landscapes*.
＊IP landscapes stands for Intellectual Property Landscape, a method used to survey and analyze intellectual properties belonging to the company and others and combine outcomes with information in the market, etc. for use as part of the company’s management strategy.
As part of principal business, our dedicated staff members provide diverse, highly specialized services and information. In addition, these staff members conduct IP activities that are closely related to the business operations of each of the sector/workplace.
Proper Use of Intellectual Property Rights
When formulating our business strategies and R&D strategies, we first investigate the IP rights of other companies. By acquiring and protecting the IP of new products and new technologies, we obtain advantageous positions in our existing businesses and seek to create new businesses.
We prevent from disputing any IP risks by promptly detecting and dealing with them and we take appropriate action to deal with infringements of our IP rights.
Respect for Intellectual Property as Corporate Culture
We aim to instill respect for intellectual property relating to inventions, designs, brands, etc. throughout the company and to establish this as part of our corporate culture. The Intellectual Property Department provides beginner, intermediate and advanced training for employees mainly involved in R&D-related jobs at sites in Japan to enhance employees’ IP-related skills. It also provides individual training and training on specific themes according to the needs of each division.
Inventions by Employees
Mitsui Kinzoku Group has established and applies rules for handling inventions in accordance with the Patent Act in Japan to encourage inventions by employees. Rather than inventions by employees belonging to the company, inventors receive reasonable benefits for submission of IP after filling and wage of IP after granted, etc.