Epson 2004 Annual Report Download - page 28

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SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION26
A Worldwide Approach to Patents
To protect its global business inter-
ests, Epson strategically files patent
applications and establishes strongly
enforceable intellectual properties
on a worldwide basis, not just in
Japan and the United States. To
enhance and expedite the approval
process in the patent office, Epson
gives regular presentations on its core
technologies for patent examiners
in each applicable country.
Vigorous Patent Management
Encompassing Affiliates
In April 2001, Epson drafted a
regulation for managing patents
within Seiko Epson Corporation,
and created a system for consoli-
dating patent applications filed by
Epson affiliates worldwide. This
regulation provides for Epson a
worldwide patent reward program.
Through this program, applicable
Respect for intellectual property, both its own and that of other companies, is
deeply ingrained in the mindset and corporate behavior of the Epson Group.
Under a productivity-driven system for managing intellectual properties, Epson is
forming a robust patent portfolio as business units submit patent applications to
acquire strongly enforceable property rights. Epson is seeking to broaden its
business opportunities by leveraging this impressive portfolio.
Patent Starategies
to ideas for business models at
sales companies as much as to
technology, Epson is providing the
incentive to motivate those with
potentially profitable ideas to
come forward.
Epson’s Intellectual Property Style
Epson’s “Dolphin” (or Double
Leading Patents by Promoting High
Quality Innovations) program is a
distinguishing feature of Epson’s
patent activities. By organizing
development designers with a
wealth of frontline experience to
tackle major research themes, con-
ducting patent searches, analyzing
patents from other companies and
exploring new inventions or drafting
new applications, Epson can submit
focused patent applications at the
earliest stages of R&D. This process
can help to steer the direction in
which a given R&D topic is headed.
Reward System for Workplace
Inventions
Today, the number of employee-
instigated lawsuits over compensa-
tion for transferring the rights to
inventions made in the workplace
is rising. Epson considers its reward
system for workplace inventions to
be among the best in the industry.
In light of recent court decisions,
however, Epson cannot rule out the
risk of possible litigation on this
front. As a precaution, Epson is
increasing transparency in this area
by opening channels for input on its
reward system and establishing a
committee for deliberating the issue
of inventions in the workplace. At the
same time, Epson is altering its reward
system as needed in response to
legal trends in this area.