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Intellectual Property and Entertainment

A wide range of legal services in the fields of technology, entertainment, and media, including cross-border transactions and disputes

Our legal expertise covers licensing, joint research and development, technology transfers, and other aspects of intellectual property and entertainment practice. We provide advice, assistance, and representation with respect to the management and strategic use of intellectual property, filing and conducting trademark applications, personal information and privacy, contract negotiations, and dispute resolution.

Our lawyers are also active in holding seminars and lectures (for the public and clients), and publishing articles on intellectual property.

Intellectual Property Management

Recent court cases in Japan have made it increasingly important for both large and small companies to give careful attention to the management of intellectual property rights generated in the course of day-to-day operations, particularly in terms of preventing the disclosure of trade secrets. We advise both start-up ventures and large corporations, as well as universities that handle technology transfers, in connection with internal policies and procedures to control, protect, and acquire intellectual property rights, and to increase corporate value through brand strategy.

Trademark Applications

Our trademark team comprises lawyers and a patent attorney who deal with all matters relating to trademarks, including preliminary investigations of trademarks, strategic trademark portfolio advice, applications for registration, transfers and other procedures, and procedures for invalidation. We provide total brand management and support to our clients, from pursuing trademark applications to dealing with infringement matters.

Entertainment and Sports

Our Entertainment Law Practice Group offers services for each phase of the production, acquisition, and distribution of commercial content, such as animated cartoons, motion pictures, games, photographs, books, and music. Our services include preparation of sponsorship and licensing agreements and dispute resolution in connection with performances and other events such as sporting events, art exhibitions, music festivals, and theatrical performances. Our lawyers have practical experience overseas and cooperate with our overseas offices in Asia and other international law firms to assist clients with the acquisition and development of content in multiple markets.

Intellectual Property and Entertainment：People

Intellectual Property and Entertainment：Newsletters

Jul. 29, 2024 TECH, IP AND TELECOMS LAW UPDATES: TECH, IP AND TELECOMS LAW UPDATES Vol.10 July 2024
Jul. 8, 2024 STRUCTURED FINANCE BULLETIN: Enterprise Value Mortgage to be Introduced by New Legislation
Jul. 8, 2024 RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY NEWSLETTER: Enterprise Value Mortgage to be Introduced by New Legislation
Jul. 8, 2024 BANKING BULLETIN: Enterprise Value Mortgage to be Introduced by New Legislation
May 31, 2024 TECH, IP AND TELECOMS LAW UPDATES: TECH, IP AND TELECOMS LAW UPDATES Vol.9 May 2024

Intellectual Property and Entertainment：News

Aug. 29, 2024Public Service: The "Guidelines for NFT Businesses 3rd Edition," in which Masafumi Masuda was involved in the formulation as Legal Counsel of the NFT Subcommittee, is released by Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)
Aug. 7, 2024Public Service: Atsushi Okada states his opinions as an expert at the Special Commission on Investigation of Digital Society and Creation of New Industry, Iwate Prefectural Government
Jul. 10, 2024Public Service: Revised "Guidelines on Blockchain Games," whose formulation included the involvement of Masafumi Masuda, are released by CESA, JOGA, and MCF
Jul. 1, 2024Public Service: Masafumi Masuda becomes a member of the Peer Review Committee for "the Development of Basic Technology and Rules for the Expansion of the Virtual Economy," Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, Cabinet Office
Jun. 3, 2024Public Service: Masafumi Masuda becomes a secretary of the Governance Subcommittee of the Research Group on Contents AI

Intellectual Property and Entertainment：Seminars

Sep. 5, 2024External Seminars: "Cyber Avatars, Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: The Japanese Perspective”
Jul. 29, 2024External Seminars: "Ensuring Safety and Security for Cybernetic Avators: Addressing E3LSI Challenges"
Jul. 25, 2024External Seminars: "AI and Web3 technologies for building growth and trust"
Jul. 16, 2024 - External Seminars: "Legal 500 Partner Perspectives - AI Regulations in Japan"
May 22, 2024External Seminars: "IP and Innovation | Decoding Copyright in the Era of ChatGPT: Generative AI and Copyright Law"

Intellectual Property and Entertainment：Publications

Book: "Act on the Protection of Personal Information"
Magazine Article: "Series: Technology x Copyright - Keywords for Promoting a Better Understanding (5): Technology to Reject Collection by Crawler"
Magazine Article: "Japan - Cookies & Similar Technologies 2024"
Magazine Transcript: "Panel discussion: AI Guidelines for Business (Part 1) Commentary on AI Guidelines for Business"
Book: "Case Studies: Methods for Proving Claims under General Provisions - A Legal Structure Approach from the Perspectives of Substantive and Procedural Laws"