JAPAN IP LIVE: AI, Litigation, and Licensing Trends to Watch

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Please join APABA Silicon Valley’s Intellectual Property Committee, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA), the Licensing Executives Society – Silicon Valley Chapter (LES-SVC), and NEDO for an in-person panel discussion in Palo Alto. This event will feature experts from Tokyo focused on key IP developments in Japan affecting technology, innovation, commercialization, and enforcement across industries.

• AI-related inventions in Japan, including how AI-assisted and AI-enabled innovations are being considered under Japanese patent practice and what companies should keep in mind when protecting emerging technologies (Hideyuki Tanaka).
• Patent litigation and injunctions in Japan, with a focus on enforcement trends, available remedies, and strategic considerations for patent holders and accused infringers (Naoki Okumura).
• Recent developments in licensing in Japan, including practical issues in structuring, negotiating, and managing license arrangements in an evolving legal and business environment (Yoshimichi Makiyama).

Miku Mehta, the U.S. event host, will provide commentary from the U.S. perspective.

Schedule
Networking:  5:30 to 6:00 PM
Presentation:  6:00 to 7:30 PM
Q&A / Additional Networking:  7:30 to 8:30 PM

Thank you to JPAA, LES-SVC and NEDO for joining APABA Silicon Valley in co-hosting this event, and to Procopio for providing the event venue, hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

JPAA SPEAKERS

Naoki Okumura (Nakamura & Partners, Tokyo)
PROFILE
Mr. Naoki Okumura is an attorney at law and patent attorney whose practice focuses on intellectual property, corporate legal affairs, and international transactions. He holds an LL.B. from the University of Tokyo and an LL.M. from Duke University, and is admitted to the New York State Bar. He has extensive experience in patent litigation, trade secrets, and related IP matters, and has published and lectured widely on these topics.

Yoshimichi Makiyama (Ripple Law Firm, Tokyo)
PROFILE 

Mr. Yoshimichi Makiyama is an attorney admitted in Japan and New York, with extensive experience in corporate, intellectual property, and international legal matters. His background includes Ripple Partners, Microsoft Asia, and Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York. His practice covers areas such as IT, data protection, ESG, antitrust, and cross-border transactions, and he has authored numerous publications on emerging legal issues including AI and data protection.

Hideyuki Tanaka 

Hideyuki Tanaka is a patent attorney whose practice focuses on patent prosecution and intellectual property consulting for companies. He was engaged in research and development at Fuji Electric Co., Ltd, where he made numerous inventions. After that, he worked in the IP department of the company and was qualified as a Japanese Patent Attorney. He has extensive experience in the fields of science and technology and intellectual property, and he has published and lectured widely in these fields.

Masahiko Matsuno (Nakamura & Partners, Tokyo)
PROFILE

Masahiko Matsuno is an attorney at law and patent attorney focusing on intellectual property, unfair competition, international trade, litigation, and dispute resolution. He graduated from University of Tokyo Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo School of Law, and UCLA School of Law (Magna Cum Laude). He trained at Baker & Hostetler LLP (Washington, D.C.) and worked for a global apparel company. He lectures at University of Tsukuba and has written articles and given seminars in patent law, design law, and litigation. He is qualified in Japan as well as New York.

U.S. COMMENTATOR

Miku Mehta (Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP, Palo Alto)
PROFILE

Miku (US Patent Attorney, Partner) focuses his practice on patents, designs, trademarks, brand protection and export control. His technology areas include software/AI, hardware, networks, energy/environmental, optics, and telecommunications. Miku double majored in Systems Engineering and Environmental Sciences, worked in industry as an environmental engineer and then a software engineer, and ran an outdoor adventures business while in law school. He leads Procopio’s Intellectual Property and Asia Pacific practices.