International Symposium

Intellectual Property Rights and East Asian Renaissance

Announcement

Invention and dissemination of new technology has been vital to the expansion of the global economy, particularly to the recent significant expansion of trade and economic development in East Asia. The manner in which new technology is protected as intellectual property greatly affects its creation and diffusion, and, ultimately, also greatly affects economic development. With no protection of intellectual property rights, there is little incentive to create new inventions, and inventors are unlikely to publish their discoveries. Conversely, if protection is too strong, detrimental effects from monopolization can arise or further inventions may be hindered. In a global society, the issue of the scope of intellectual property protection is not limited by national borders; it must be considered from the standpoint of an international institution. International rules on the protection of intellectual property are being formed through the TRIPS agreement, but the ideal means of protecting intellectual property among countries with diverse income levels and differing systems remains a significant issue. In particular, for East Asia, where economic development is closely linked to expanding international trade, the way in which intellectual property is protected, from an international standpoint, is becoming an increasingly vital issue in facilitating further growth. This symposium intends to investigate the current state of intellectual property protection, issues related to the design and operation of intellectual property systems, responses by companies directly affected by these systems, and the way toward international harmonization from academic, political, and practicable standpoints.

Symposium presentations will include reports from United States and Japanese researchers on the effects of intellectual property protection on invention, trade, and economic growth, and from Chinese researchers regarding the response of rapidly growing Chinese companies to the protection of intellectual property. Panel discussions will address such themes as the current state internationally of intellectual property protection, issues to be investigated related to international rules, issues related to the design and implementation of systems, as well as government response, the strategy and response of international companies affected by the systems, and the ideal way of protecting intellectual property.

The symposium will be hosted jointly by the Kyoto University Institute of Economic Research and RIETI, with participation by a wide variety of speakers and panelists including researchers from the United States, China, and Japan, intellectual property policymakers, and corporate representatives.

Information

  • Time and Date:
    13:30-17:35; Monday, January 28, 2008
  • Venue:
    Hall B5, Tokyo International Forum
    5-1 Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
  • Language:
    Japanese/English/Chinese (with simultaneous interpretation)
  • Charge: Free (Registration required in advance)
  • Hosts: Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University (KIER) / Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)
  • Support: The Integrated Economic Research Foundation
  • Contact: RIETI
    RIETI, (Ms.) Tomoko Kase
    Tel: 03-3501-8398 Fax: 03-3501-8416

* Streaming video footage of and handouts pertaining to the symposium will be available for download from the RIETI website after the event.
* Purpose of Use of Images

Agenda (subject to change)

13:30-13:35 Opening Remarks

NISHIMURA Kazuo (Director and Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University)

13:35-15:45 Speech

13:35-13:50 "Globalization and East Asian Renaissance"

FUJITA Masahisa (President and Chief Research Officer, RIETI / Professor, Konan University / Adjunct Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University)

13:50-14:30 "Enforcing IPR: Recent Trends and Prospects for Global Collaboration"

Keith E. MASKUS (Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Professor of Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder)

14:30-15:10 "Innovation and Intellectual Property Environment of Chinese Enterprises: Current Situation and Change"

CHEN Xiaohong (Director, Enterprise Research Institute, Development Research Center of the State Council of the P.R.C [DRC])

15:10-15:45 "Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade"

WAKASUGI Ryuhei (Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University / Research Counselor and Faculty Fellow, RIETI)

15:45-16:00 Coffee Break

16:00-17:30 Panel Discussion "Intellectual Property Rights and Growth of the World Economy"

Coordinator: SAWA Takamitsu (Project Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University / Distinguished Professor, School of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University)

Panelists:

TANAKA Nobuyoshi (Senior Managing Director, and Group Executive, Corporate Intellectual Property and Legal Headquarters, Canon Inc.)

SUZUKI Hideo (Deputy Director-General, Economic and Industrial Policy Bureau, METI)

Keith E. MASKUS (Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Professor of Economics, University of Colorado at Boulder)

CHEN Xiaohong (Director, Enterprise Research Institute, Development Research Center of the State Council of the P.R.C [DRC])

WAKASUGI Ryuhei (Professor, Institute of Economic Research, Kyoto University / Research Counselor and Faculty Fellow, RIETI)

17:30-17:35 Closing Remarks

OIKAWA Kozo (Chairman, RIETI)

17:40- Reception

* Agenda is subject to change.