Sharp 2013 Annual Report Download - page 19

Annual Report 2013 17
R&D and Intellectual Property
The new standards will cover MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive
Streaming over HTTP), H.265 High Efficiency Video Coding
(HEVC), an encoding method that doubles the data compres-
sion ratio, and the MPEG Media Transport (MMT), the multiplex
method which is currently under development and will see the
convergence of broadcasting and telecommunications. Sharp
has provided its research and development findings, some of
which have been adopted into these standards.
Intellectual Property Strategy
Sharp views its intellectual property strategy as one of its key
management measures, promoting it in a coherent manner with
business and R&D strategies. By aggressively targeting acquisition
of patent rights, Sharp works to secure competitive edges in its
Product and Device Businesses and thus reinforce its operational
foundation. In advancing its intellectual property strategy in a
consistent manner, Sharp’s Intellectual Property Center, under
the Corporate Research and Development Division, undertakes
management of overall strategy and cooperates with patent-re-
lated entities within each Business Division and site. At the same
time, the center organizes various initiatives related to intellectual
property through an approach of mutual cooperation.
Sharp has clearly delineated the fields that are central to each
business group and has assigned engineers well versed in patent
matters to each of these core business fields to conduct strategic
patent development* close to the front line. Sharp also obtains
useful patents arising from alliance activities from collaboration
with other companies or universities. As of March 31, 2013,
Sharp had 20,764 patents in Japan and 25,093 overseas. Sharp
utilizes these patents to strengthen its strategic businesses.
Sharp is also working to obtain design and trademark registra-
tions based on its brand strategy so as to increase the number of
applications and registrations globally.
Sharp endeavors to make full use of its intellectual property
in coordination with its business and R&D strategies. In addi-
tion, we take actions to protect our intellectual property rights,
and we adopt an approach of respecting the intellectual prop-
erty rights of other organizations. Our fundamental policy is to
resolve infringement issues through dialogue. If other organi-
zations fail to respect our intellectual property rights, however,
we are fully prepared to enlist third parties, including courts, to
obtain a judgment.
Sharp also works hard to reinforce the protection of trade se-
crets and to prevent leaks concerning its unique and important
production technologies and know-how. Also, the impact of
counterfeit Sharp products overseas has grown in recent years.
In response, we have been promoting measures to clamp down
on this practice in cooperation with the relevant authorities and
industry associations.
* International patent applications (PCT applications) in 2012: Sharp ranked
3rd among applications (WIPO data)