Japan Keeps Patent Information of 25 Key Security Technologies Confidential... "Considering China"

The Japanese government began implementing a system on the 1st that withholds patent information on technologies critical to security, according to reports by Yomiuri Shimbun and Kyodo News.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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According to the reports, from this day forward, the Japanese government will keep patents in 25 fields confidential, including stealth technology that prevents aircraft from being detected by radar, defense technology against guided missiles, and technology related to the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, and will also prohibit filing patents for these technologies abroad.

While patents are generally disclosed after 18 months, from this day on, the Patent Office and the Cabinet Office will conduct reviews to determine whether to keep newly applied patents confidential. The government plans to compensate for losses incurred due to delays in manufacturing and selling products using patents designated as confidential.

To prevent leaks of confidential patents, the Japanese government will require companies to appoint information management officers. Additionally, measures such as minimizing the number of personnel sharing related information and restricting access to management locations will be implemented.

Kyodo News stated that regarding the patent confidentiality, "This is a measure aimed at preventing the leakage of technologies that could harm security, keeping in mind China and others who are strengthening hegemonic moves," and noted that it is a key provision of the Economic Security Promotion Act passed by the National Diet in May 2022.

Furthermore, the Japanese government plans to implement a system from the 17th that mandates prior review when companies related to social infrastructure such as electricity, gas, and water introduce important facilities.

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