Overseas IP Litigation Insurance Scheme for SMEs

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has established Japan’s first insurance scheme to cover the cost of overseas intellectual property (IP) litigation, to reduce financial burden of SMEs that become embroiled in disputes over IP infringements in other countries. The premium will be halved for SMEs enrolling in this insurance scheme if they belong to a nationwide organization. The rise in the number of Japanese SMEs filing patent applications overseas has been accompanied by a growing tendency for such SMEs to become embroiled in disputes over IP infringements in other countries, especially in China. In order to help SMEs facing these developments, the JPO has established new overseas IP litigation insurance scheme in partnership with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Central Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry, the National Federation of Small Business.

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