みらい知的財産技術研究所 Product Lineup

Illustrator and manga artist Toshihiro Eguchi is facing allegations of tracing photos from fashion magazines and social media to create illustrations, which he then used as his own work in corporate posters, causing a stir. This issue, referred to as the "Toshihiro Eguchi tracing and plagiarism suspicion," began when a female model and creator pointed out the striking resemblance between her profile photo posted on social media and the poster illustration for the Chuo Line Cultural Festival created by Eguchi, leading to a significant uproar primarily on social media. As a result, there has been an increase in posts on social media where users search for magazine photos and social media images that they believe have been traced by Eguchi, with those making the accusations being referred to as the "tracing and plagiarism police." *For more details on the column, please refer to the related links. For further inquiries, feel free to contact us.*

• Patent/Copyright related services

When we are in department stores or commercial facilities, we sometimes hear background music (BGM). In such moments, we often focus on the performers themselves, thinking things like, "This song was performed by artist A," or "This is a song by singer B." However, under Japanese copyright law, while there is a system in place to pay royalties to lyricists and composers for BGM played in commercial facilities, there is no system for distributing payments to performers. *For more details on the column, please refer to the related link. Feel free to contact us for more information.*

• Patent/Copyright related services

The generation forms of AI (artificial intelligence) can be broadly classified into three categories. The first is the directive generation (prompt-based generation) method, where humans instruct the AI to generate content; the second is the autonomous generation (autonomous generation) method, where the AI thinks and works independently; and the third is the method where the AI learns from large amounts of data and generates based on statistical patterns. The autonomous generation method of AI is said to have the ability to autonomously create ideas and produce novel technological inventions without the instructions of human developers. *For more details on the column, please refer to the related links. For further inquiries, feel free to contact us.*

• Patent/Copyright related services

On April 23, 2026, the Liberal Democratic Party compiled a proposal regarding AI (artificial intelligence) policy. "AI White Paper 2.0" - A Structural Transformation to an AI-Driven Nation - (Subcommittee on AI and Web3 of the Digital Society Promotion Headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party). This time, we will interpret this white paper. *For detailed content of the column, you can view it through the related links. For more information, please feel free to contact us.

• Patent/Copyright related services

We would like to introduce our "Business Coordination" services. In businesses related to intellectual property, we examine business revenue models based on meticulous and detailed IP research and market analysis. We extract the necessary elements for realization and support the launch of new projects while dividing responsibilities. Please feel free to contact us when needed. 【Support Services】 ■ Business commercialization support utilizing intellectual property ■ Development of business schemes ■ Formulation of business plans ■ Business matching (support for collaboration with financial institutions, local governments, etc.) ■ Fundraising support ■ Advice on market development *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.

• Patents
• Patent/Copyright related services

We would like to introduce our "Intellectual Property Business Services." Our aim is to assist in resolving the issues related to intellectual property operations that our customers face in the increasingly diversified and complex intellectual property business. In response to our customers' needs, we offer the support services listed below. Please feel free to consult us for any other requests you may have. 【Support Services】 ■ Trademark and Design Searches ■ Intellectual Property and Related Law Seminars, In-house Training ■ Intellectual Property Valuation and Rights Management ■ Patent Inventory and Intellectual Property Management Support *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.

• Patents
• Patent/Copyright related services

We would like to introduce our "Patent and Technology Research Services." Our research staff, composed of specialists with extensive research and development experience, has supported the core businesses of companies. We propose comprehensive research that meets various research needs, from prior art searches during invention and patent application to technology trend investigations for new business entry. 【Services Offered】 ■ Prior Art Searches (Novelty Searches, Pre-Patent Application Searches, Pre-Examination Requests) ■ Invalidity Document Searches and Opposition Document Searches (Prior Art Searches) ■ Infringement Prevention Searches (Clearance Searches, Conflict Searches) ■ Technology Trend Investigations (Patent Map Research) *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.

• Patents
• Patent/Copyright related services

The Japan Patent Office has expanded outsourcing for necessary prior art searches and other tasks during examinations by amending the "Act on Special Provisions Concerning Procedures Related to Industrial Property Rights" in the 2004 Ordinary Diet Session, including the removal of the public interest corporation requirement from the criteria for outsourcing partners, thereby creating an environment to utilize private sector vitality. As a result, there are currently nine organizations registered as registered investigation agencies. The Japan Patent Office is utilizing the investigation capabilities of these registered agencies to promote patent examination processing and improve the quality of patent examinations. [Public Information] ■ Overview of prior art searches ■ Guidelines for applying to become a registered investigation agency / List of forms ■ Overview of the conformity of classification and summary descriptions ■ Methods for determining outsourcing partners and the number of orders, as well as how to set contract amounts ■ Business regulations (examples) Categories 1 to 39, Category 40 ■ Register of registered investigation agencies *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.

• Patents
• Patent/Copyright related services

We would like to introduce information regarding our initiatives in patents. By outsourcing part of the prior art literature search conducted by examiners to registered investigation agencies, we are implementing measures to improve the quality of prior art literature searches while ensuring the promptness of examinations. Under the "Quality Policy for Patent Examination" and the "Manual for Quality Control of Patent Examination," we are undertaking initiatives aimed at achieving the highest quality patent examination in the world. [Initiatives] ■ Initiatives to maintain the promptness of examinations ■ Initiatives to establish high-quality rights ■ Initiatives for international collaboration and cooperation ■ Other initiatives *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.

• Patents
• Patent/Copyright related services

The organizations that can conduct prior art literature searches for patent application cases commissioned by the Patent Office, which are authorized and registered by the Commissioner of the Patent Office, are referred to as Patent Office Registered Research Institutions. In the fiscal year 2024, approximately 131,000 prior art searches for patents are being conducted, and the organization is also recognized by the Patent Office as a "professional group for prior art literature searches." Please feel free to contact us when needed. 【Features】 ■ Authorized and registered by the Commissioner of the Patent Office ■ Capable of conducting prior art literature searches for patent application cases commissioned by the Patent Office *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.

• Patents
• Patent/Copyright related services