Tokyo Declaration

Chair's Summary of the International Symposium in Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation (JIII)

May 25, 2004

Preamble

On May 25th, 2004, out of a desire to strive for the establishment and dissemination of the concept of Intellectual Property Culture (“IP Culture”), the International Symposium in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation was held in Tokyo with the participation of representatives of 4 inter-governmental organizations, organizations from 39 countries and regions, and various industries as well as numerous professionals in the intellectual property field.

Participants of the Symposium recognized the following points:

The Current Significance of IP Culture

The intellectual property rights system, in essence, functions in encouraging the development of industries through invention and innovation and possesses the ability to bring about economic benefit; it has contributed greatly to Japan, the United States, many countries in Europe and other parts of the world achieving their current economic status.

In light of the rapid globalization of world politics and economies, a variety of problems have arisen that require global cooperation in order to be effectively addressed. These problems include the uneven economic development between developed and developing countries, and issues regarding food, natural resources, the environment and population.

In order to effectively respond to the challenge posed by these complex problems, a new culture is necessary where society as a whole should understand and respect the significance of all the processes relating to intellectual property including the nurturing of creativity and the creation, protection, and utilization of intellectual property, and take action accordingly. This is IP Culture as a social foundation.

The further advancement of humankind will be difficult without the establishment of IP Culture.

The Necessity of Nurturing IP Culture, and Related Key Issues

IP Culture is multifaceted in nature and, therefore, it may be used as a powerful tool for handling a variety of problems in contemporary society only when it has been recognized comprehensively with its respective facets appropriately set in balance and nurtured, as opposed to placing emphasis only on particular ones.

Accordingly, the following facets must particularly be considered with care:

1) IP Culture as a Corporate Strategy: It is expected that the fostering of IP Culture as a corporate strategy in order to maintain and strengthen the competitiveness of each nation's companies and institutions will contribute to society, while simultaneously promoting competition among them and encouraging innovation in society as a whole.
2) IP Culture as a Strategy for Economic Development: World economic development is brought about indeed when the benefit of intellectual property is enjoyed in every country and region. In order for each country and region to plan economic development through the expansion of investment, encouragement of the introduction of new technology, and the development of autonomous technology, IP Culture is indispensable as a social foundation that promotes these activities and hinders counterfeiting and piracy, thus bringing about sound economic development.
3) Youth and IP Culture: The dreams of youth in science, technology and arts, as well as their efforts to make those dreams come true, are the wellspring of invention and innovation. Society as a whole has the pressing task of positively nurturing IP Culture , the starting point for fostering creativity, in order to enable all the youth to become well acquainted with it.
To do so, promotional activities, such as invention clubs for schoolchildren and exhibitions of invention and innovation, have proven to be extremely effective.
4) IP Culture Supported by Society as a Whole: A society that strives to realize people's dreams through the understanding and respect for IP Culture will naturally head in the direction of stability, and enables not only sustainable economic development to be realized but also invention and innovation to contribute to solving the problems which threaten the whole of society in current and future generations, resulting in the prosperity of humankind.
It is therefore necessary that IP Culture be nurtured by society as a whole.

The Dissemination of IP Culture

IP Culture will be maintained and developed only when supported by the continuous efforts of society as a whole.

In order for IP Culture to become an established element within society, it must be carried through the work of global dissemination, and not just limited to any particular country or region, so that it will be understood and respected by all people, from policy makers and managers of companies and universities to the general public.

Accordingly, we are expected to make the following efforts:

1) Fostering Human Resources: An initiative for securing human resources that will lead the development of IP Culture , and implementing capacity-building training programs should be carried out while at the same time positively utilizing and applying the abilities of experts and instructors.
2) Preparing a Social Foundation: In light of the globalization of economic activities as well as the advancement and diversification of technology, it is imperative that international harmonization of the intellectual property rights systems and their operations, including those from a new perspective, be implemented.
3) Coordination and Cooperation among Related Organizations and Associations: In order to nurture grass-roots and global IP Culture , coordination and cooperation among related organizations and associations across national boundaries should be begun at a regional level and expanded to a global level.
4) Expectations for the World Intellectual Property Organization and Other International: Organizations
It is hoped that the World Intellectual Property Organization and other International organizations will be involved in formulating and implementing a program that assures that the above aims reach fruition.