Mazda 2016 Annual Report Download - page 39

Compliance
At Mazda, the concept of compliance not only applies to laws and regulations but also includes adher-
ence to other rules such as internal guidelines and societal norms and expectations. Business opera-
tions are conducted in accordance with the Mazda Corporate Ethics Code of Conduct to ensure fair and
honest practice. This also applies overseas; Mazda not only complies with international regulations and
the laws of each country and region but also respects local history, culture, and customs. The Mazda
Corporate Ethics Code of Conduct is revised as needed to cope with changes in the social environment,
social needs, etc.
The Global Employee Engagement Survey, which includes a questionnaire concerning compliance,
is conducted to check the employees’ degree of understanding of compliance.
Mazda Global Hotline
In 1999, Mazda established the Ethics Advisory Office to handle employee inquiries about compliance
and conduct investigations on ethical matters. In September 2007, the office was renamed the Mazda
Global Hotline and the scope was expanded to include domestic and overseas Mazda Group companies
and contact points were established both inside the Company and outside (attorney’s office).
To ensure that all employees are aware of this hotline, Mazda has distributed the Compliance Card with
the contact information to all employees at Mazda Motor Corporation and ensures awareness of this hotline at
every opportunity through compliance education. Mazda has also introduced the hotline to Mazda Group
companies in Japan and overseas via each company’s Intranet.
This hotline is also introduced to suppliers so that they can report the questions arose from any
transactions.
The Mazda Corporate Ethics Code of Conduct states that “Persons who report incidences of violation of
the law and persons who cooperate in investigations of alleged violations shall not be subjected to retribution
or disadvantageous treatment.”
In addition, Mazda has set up several contact points to provide various consultations for employees.
These contact points aid in the early detection and appropriate handling of important compliance-related
information. The critical cases are reported to management.
Business Management System
Protection of Personal Information
Mazda rigorously protects personal information in line with its own Personal Information Protection
Policy. Handling rules are set out in order to ensure appropriate management of personal information,
regular examination of management records for retained personal data is taken, and management
statuses are checked once a year. In cases in which the handling of personal information is entrusted
to outside parties, such contractors are carefully selected based on a checklist which determined the
necessary items including security management. The Mazda Call Center responds to customers who
wish to inquire about the Company’s handling of personal information and those who request disclo-
sure regarding privacy issues.
Basic Policy on Intellectual Property
Mazda’s overall vision for intellectual property is to use intellectual property as a management
resource in support of its business management and enterprise activities, based on respect for its
own and others’ intellectual property. Based on this vision, Mazda has established an Intellectual
Property Committee to discuss and decide key items regarding intellectual property. The committee is
comprised of division general managers from related divisions and chaired by an executive officer
responsible for intellectual property issues. Also, the invention incentive system increases motivation
for inventions among employees working at the forefront of research and development. For its Group
companies in Japan and overseas, Mazda supports them in developing/implementing policies and
establishing systems for handling intellectual property, with the aim of enhancing the intellectual
property management functions of the entire Mazda Group.
Protection of Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Risk Management
Mazda’s dedicated Intellectual Property Department leads Company activities regarding intellectual
properties so as not to infringe upon the intellectual property rights of other companies, and con-
ducts strategic activities aimed at fiercely protecting, accumulating, and making optimal use of the
intellectual properties generated through these in-house activities.
1. Exhaustively uncovers and globally obtains rights concerning intellectual properties created by its
business activities, including new technologies, markings, model names and vehicle designs, and
protects Mazda technologies and the Mazda brand.
2. Takes steps to exhaustively investigate as well as prevent and solve any problems regarding
intellectual properties that may obstruct business activities in each domain, such as infringement
of other parties’ patent rights; trademark rights, design rights, and copyrights; and violations of the
Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
To avoid patent litigation driven by patent trolls,*1 which has been increasing mainly in the United
States, Mazda joined the License on Transfer Network*2 in March 2015.
*1 A patent troll is an organization or group that is not engaged in technology development itself but acquires patents for technologies
developed by others for the purpose of demanding unreasonably high patent royalties or settlement money from third parties that
use the relevant technologies.
*2 A patent association established in July 2014 by Canon Inc., Google Inc., and some other companies. If a member company sells a
patent it owns to an external organization, group, or individual, the license for the patent will be automatically granted to other
member companies. (If a patent troll obtains a patent of a member company, Mazda cannot be charged a patent royalty by the
patent troll.)
Compliance Promotion System
Risk Compliance
Committee
Office of General &
Legal Affairs
Mazda Global
Hotline
Representative Director and President
Departments within Mazda
(Executive Officers / Division General Managers /
Department General Managers =
Persons in charge of compliance)
Mazda Group
Companies
<Review board>
Liaison
Reporting
Deliberation of
handling
Recommen-
dation / advice
Mazda Global Hotline
Reporting
Reporting
In principle, real
name is used
Real name /
pseudonym
Reporting
Response
(where
notification is
possible)
Response
(where
notification is
possible)
Instruction
Whistleblower
Mazda Global Hotline
In-house contact point
Sector targeted for
investigation
Auditor
Office of General &
Legal Affairs
Mazda Global Hotline
Outside contact point
(attorney’s office)
Representative Director
and President
Other senior management
Reporting
MAZDA ANNUAL REPORT 2016
37 Foundations Underpinning
Sustainable Growth
Message from
Management
Review of Operations
Drivers of Value Creation
Financial Section
Contents