Asia Law & Practice IP Profile 2008
A guide to the world’s law firms and legal markets, publication date September 30, 2008

Synchronize responses to world Official Actions for valid patents
Japanese patent attorney and president of Ryuka IP Law Firm, Akihiro Ryuka, discusses strategies to obtain solid patents in both Japan and other countries using response synchronization to the world Office Actions, utilizing deferral and acceleration of the examination, extension of response period, preliminary amendment, and information listing.

Taking Leadership For Protecting And Creating Businesses
RYUKA Group marks its 10th anniversary in the year 2008 and files about 1,000 patent applications to the JPO a year in the technical fields. Arranged in 3 groups – RYUKA Consulting Inc., RYUKA IP Law Firm, and RYUKA Patent Translations Inc., RYUKA Group supports the businesses of our clients in fulfilling their future visions and reaching their hopes and dreams through patents.

Managing Intellectual Property November 2003

Top firms in trade marks
A listing of the top-ranked firms for trade mark/copyright work in 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Asia and North America. Nomination forms were sent to nearly 4,000 IP specialists in companies and in private practice in over 100 countries. Ryuka Group was judged by their peers to be among the Top 10 law firms in Japan in trademark/copyright law.

Managing Intellectual Property December 2002 / January 2003

Japan to extend copyright term / January 2003
The Japanese government planned to strengthen existing copyright law to extend copyright protection from 50 to 70 years. Under the TRIPs Agreement, copyright material that has been produced overseas can still only be protected as long as the protection period lasts in the copyright holder’s country.

Japan enacts IP reforms / December 2002
The Basic Intellectual Property Law was enacted by the Japanese parliament in hopes it will speed patent registration while offering improved IP protection. The law covers all areas of Intellectual Property, including patents, utility models, designs, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and trade secrets.

Managing Intellectual Property July / August 2002

Japan to reinforce IP framework by 2003
“Mitsuko Wada, from Tokyo-based IP Law Firm Ryuka, said a new basic IP law would not replace the present patent law, but would reinforce the country’s IP framework and act as an umbrella over existing IP laws.”

Managing Intellectual Property May 2002

Record Japan patent award in doubt
Patent awards in Japan are based on the patent owners’ working capability. “In this case [Aruze vs. Sammy], working capability is interpreted to mean potential capability,” said Akihiro Ryuka and Mituko Wada of Ryuka Law Firm in Tokyo. Sammy Corp. was ordered to pay damages on 39,000 infringing machines sold when the total number of machines deemed to have infringed was 5,000. The biggest award in a patent infringement case in Japan may never be paid, however, since the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) ruled that the patent in question is invalid.

Managing Intellectual Property April 2002

Japan gives software patents green light
Legislation boosted protection for owners of online Intellectual Property in Japan, addressing the question of patent protection for software available on the internet (previously only applicable to software existing on a tangible product, such as a CD-ROM or diskette). “The new bill makes clear that a program is patentable,” says Akira Ryuka, senior partner of Ryuka IP Law Firm in Tokyo.

The month in words

Managing Intellectual Property March 2002

Increased online rights protection on the way in Japan
Legislation boosted protection for owners of online Intellectual Property in Japan, addressing the question of patent protection for software available on the internet

Managing Intellectual Property September 2001

Asia IP Focus, Japan: A strategic approach for TM protection
This article, written by Ryuka IP Law Firm for publication in Managing Intellectual Property magazine, provides an overview of the Japanese trade mark process and strategies for trademark applicants to successfully secure trademark protection in Japan. It also shows how to avoid common difficulties in the Japanese trademark process.

IP ASIA Patent Yearbook 2001
(Euromoney Publications)

The Japanese Patent Process: A Strategic Approach To Patent Protection
“Intellectual Property in Japan,” written by Akihiro Ryuka, senior partner at Ryuka IP Law Firm in Tokyo, and Paul Smith, a qualified New Zealand lawyer who has worked at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand and as an IP consultant with Ryuka patent law attorneys for publication in IP ASIA, Asia Law & Practice takes you step by step through the patent process in Japan.