Report: Tokyo regional consultation
On October 19, 1998, the eighth regional consultation within the framework of the WIPO Internet Domain Name Process was held in Tokyo, Japan. The consultation was hosted by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) and was conducted in cooperation with the Japan Network Information Center and the Japanese Patent Office (JPO).
The meeting was attended on behalf of WIPO by Mr. Shozo Uemura, Deputy Director General, Mr. Richard Wilder, Director-Advisor, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs and Ms. Lucinda Jones, Consultant, Office of Legal and Organization Affairs. The panel of experts assisting WIPO in its work was represented by Mr. Kensuke Norichika (Executive Director, Software Information Center) and Dr. Ousmane Kane (Executive Director, African Regional Centre for Technology).
The consultation was opened by Mr. Atsushi Oshima (Chairman of the Trademark Committee, JPAA) on behalf of the JPAA. Mr. Naomasa Maruyama (Vice President, Japan Network Information Center) spoke on behalf of JPNIC and Mr. Joji Hashimoto (Director General, 1st Examination Department, JPO) on behalf of the JPO. Mr. Shozo Uemura opened the consultation on behalf of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The presentations and open discussions covered the four main topics to be addressed by the WIPO Internet Domain Name Process: dispute prevention, dispute resolution, protection of famous and well-known marks, and introduction of new gTLDs. The table below lists those who participated in the consultation.
It was recognized that a system to deal with the conflicts that arise between domain names and trademarks must be in place. Such a system should be respectful of both the need for speed and low cost in the registration of internet domain names, while at the same time protecting the legitimate interests of trademark owners. Emphasis was also placed on the need for a process for the protection of famous and well-known marks. Indeed, some speakers, representatives of trademark owners felt that the process for the protection of famous and well-known marks was a central issue in the WIPO internet domain names process. It was pointed out that a list of well-known or "defensive marks" is maintained by the Japanese Patent Office. Some speakers were in favor of establishing such a list for the protection of famous and well-known marks in the context of the registration of domain names. In respect of dispute resolution it was pointed out that the law in Japan allows for only binding arbitration, not non-binding arbitration.
A recording was made of the proceedings. The transcript will shortly be made available to the public on this website under the section "Consultations."
| NAME | TITLE | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|---|
| Yuichi Akachi | Lawyer | |
| Hiromichi Aoki | PPA | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Hirofumi Aoki | Assistant Director, Trademark Division | Japanese Patent Office |
| Ichiro Chujo | Marketing Manager | Isle Inc. |
| Robert F.Connelly | President | Procurement Services International, Inc. |
| Naoko Gonjo | Internet Initiative Japan Inc. | |
| Masaharu Hagiri | Member of the Trademark Committee | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Tsunzo Hanabusa | PPA | Hanabusa Patent Office |
| Normichi Hatano | Manager | Kanebo, Ltd. |
| Joji Hashimoto | Director General, 1st Examination Dept. | Japanese Patent Office |
| Toyoharu Higuchi | PPA | Aoyama & Partners |
| Takashi Nishimura | Manager, Operating Section, Operating Div. | Japan Personal Computer Software Assc. |
| Norikatsu Honda | Network Services | Alps System Integration Co. |
| Seiji Honna | Manager | Shibata Network Services Co. Ltd |
| Wataru Kado | Nippon Telephone and Telegram Co., Ltd. | |
| Hirotaka Kadobayashi | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. | |
| Keiko Kikuchi | Patent Attorney | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Takeshi Kikuchi | Attorney-at-Law, Vice President of ADR | Japan Federation of Bar Assoc. |
| Masaru Kitujima | EDP Department Planning Division | KENWOOD Corp. |
| Shuya Kohhara | Patent Attorney | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Mitsutomo Konno | Assistant Director | Japanese Patent Office |
| Kubo, Tsugizo | Senior Managing Officer | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Lyhus, John | General Manager, International Department | Brandy International |
| Maruhashi, Toru | Manager, Legal Section | NIFTY Corporation |
| Maruyama, Naomasa | Vice President | Japan Network Information Center |
| Kazuko Matsuo | Lawyer | ACIP; Japan Trademark Association, Nakamura & Partners |
| Hiroshi Matsuoka | Internet Provider Management | Canon (Fast Net) |
| Tomokazu Mine | Legal | SRA Inc. |
| Takamichi Miyoshi | General Manager, Technology Planning Division, Planning Department | Internet Initiative Japan Inc. |
| Naoki Mizutani | Attorney at Law | Mizutani Law & Patent Office |
| Teruhisa Motomiya | Manager, Trademark, Patent Attorney | Okabe International Patent Office |
| Eiichi Nabeshima | Manager | Japan Business Computer Co., LTD |
| Hitoshi Nakamura | Vice President of Trademark Committee | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Masaru Nishi | Asaka Media Port | |
| Yoshio Nishimoto | Manager, Network Administrator | ASCII Something Good Corp. |
| Rieko Oshima | Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. | |
| Atsushi Oshima | Chairman of the Trademark Committee | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Yasuhiko Oshimoto | Patent Attorney | Japanese Patent Attorney Assoc. |
| Junko Otsuka | Trademark Examiner | Japanese Patent Office |
| Midori Saito | Legal Manager | Software Research Associates, Inc. |
| Yoshinori Sakata | Trademark Staff | Tashiro & Etoh Patent Bureau |
| Hiroshi Sakuma | Assistant Director | Intelligent Telecom Inc. |
| Yusake Sato | Advisor | Meiji University PC-Project |
| Tomoki Sawai | Deputy Director, International Affairs Division | Japanese Patent Office |
| Warren Shimeall | Senior Partner | Welty, Shimeall & Associates |
| Masaya Suzuki | Trademark Examiner, International Affairs Division | Japanese Patent Office |
| Kelko Suzuki | Trademark Examiner | Japanese Patent Office |
| Toru Takahashi | Chairman | Internet Association of Japan |
| Guangliang Tang | Professor | Institute of Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences |
| Masahiko Thuluoka | Engineer | Intergate Co., LTD |
| Masanobu Takatori | Patent Attorney | Suzuye & Suzuye |
| Takuo Tojima | Operation Section, Operating Division | |
| Sanae Ueda | Internet Initiative Japan Inc. | |
| Tadao Urimoto | Director for Planning Office of Design Registration System | Japanese Patent Office |
| Satoshi Watanake | Intellectual Property | |
| Yamamoto Toshimitsu | PFU Limited | |
| Toshihiro Tsubo | President | Global Commons, Inc. |
| Mitsunori Wada | Manager | Brandy International |
| Kozo Yabe | Attorney at Law | Japan Trademark Association (Vice-Chair, Legal System Committee) |
| Akihiro Yamaura | Associate Manager | NTT Long-Distance |
| Yasunori Yamamoto | Ministry of Post and Telecommunication | |
| Yoshihiko Yamamoto | Yamanashi Area communication Committee | |
| Kenji Yoshida | Patent Attorney | Yoshida, Kanayama, Ishida & Associates |