Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property
The Yamaha Group believes that proper protection and use of intellectual property is essential for accelerating innovation and inspiring creativity and make social development faster and healthier. Based on this belief, the Group has proceeded to protect its business through the proactive acquisition and utilization of intellectual property rights. We have also been fostering a culture of respecting the intellectual property rights of others and developing an organization that is built on this respect. These efforts have been aimed at enacting our Corporate Philosophy "Sharing Passion & Performance" and accomplishing our management vision "Becoming an Indispensable, Brilliantly Individual Company."
Intellectual Property Protection Initiatives
The Yamaha Group is proactive in its efforts to acquire, protect, and utilize important intellectual property rights created during the course of its business activities, such as those pertaining to new technological concepts, designs, products, or service names. At the same time, we view respect for the intellectual property rights of others as a basic principle, and the Compliance Code of Conduct contains stipulations pertaining to the protection of such intellectual property rights, which are faithfully observed. When conducting preliminary surveys in conjunction with the announcement of new product development projects or the acquisition of intellectual property rights, the Group strives to avoid infringing on existing rights by improving the precision of its surveys through the implementation of tools that utilize AI technologies.
In addition, regulations and bonus systems are in place with regard to the rights (patents, designs, etc.) to new inventions produced as part of work. The Yamaha Group also holds educational sessions for employees to ensure they are able to appropriately use intellectual property held by the Group or other parties. In addition to training upon hiring, Yamaha Corporation is enhancing its employee training programs through means such as holding training sessions for employees upon joining or being transferred to development and marketing divisions, including sessions related to the themes of patents, copyrights, and general management of intellectual property.
Patents
The Yamaha Group has formulated a patent strategy to match the characteristics of its business projected over the medium to long term based on analysis of patent data and other information, and is working to drive the creation of new value and build a strong patent portfolio to protect this value. With regard to specific businesses, we are engaged in patent activities with the main aims of differentiation from other companies as well as the maintenance of a competitive edge, and are moving forward with licensing to third parties as appropriate.
In addition, annual evaluations are conducted on the current state of utilization and future possibilities of all patent rights retained in Japan and overseas, and we rigorously categorize and manage our portfolio of intellectual property with the potential to contribute to the development of unique Yamaha products and to the establishment of a competitive advantage. By optimizing our intellectual property portfolio and numbers of held rights, we are promoting the rational use of intellectual property.
The total number of patents and utility models for practical use held by the Yamaha Group in Japan as of March 31, 2023, was 2,183. The total number held overseas, principally in the United States, Europe, and China, was roughly 2,673 on March 31, 2023, making a global total of approximately 4,856.
Designs
The Yamaha Group views designs as an important element of product differentiation, and we are promoting the appropriate protection and use of designs through design rights and other intellectual property rights accordingly. As part of these efforts, the Group has been ramping up the acquisition and exercise of design rights in countries and regions where there are many victims of counterfeiting. Designs have become an increasingly important element of branding in recent years, and strategies for acquiring design rights are being advanced based on this trend.
As of March 31, 2023, we held 1,622 design rights, with 535 in Japan and 1,087 overseas.
Copyrights
In addition to patents, designs, and trademarks, the Yamaha Group has produced a large number of copyrighted works in the sound, music, and other fields. Music-related copyrights are a particularly important form of intellectual property, and the Group manages and utilizes these rights, taking legal action when necessary. Education and training on the proper use of copyrighted works are also provided to employees. In December 2022, training sessions on the theme of education were held for intellectual property managers and other relevant employees at Yamaha Group companies.
Brands
Our brands have been an important asset, and a symbol of our responsibility toward customers and society, since the establishment of the Company. The Yamaha Group has implemented rules governing brand display methods and is working to improve brand value through appropriate use based on management standards related to Yamaha brands and under the guidance of the Brand Strategy Committee, a Companywide brand management organization. Furthermore, the Group has trademarked its brand in almost every part of the world and conducts preliminary surveys and acquires rights via the appropriate methods for the sub-brands of its products, services, and technologies.
Counterfeit Product Countermeasures
Through ongoing countermeasures for combatting unauthorized usage of Group intellectual property and counterfeit products, issues that are on the rise across the globe, the Yamaha Group continues to take action against these problems in order to eliminate the economic disadvantage for consumers while ensuring safety and maintaining trust in the Yamaha brand. In China, we are stepping up measures, including filing lawsuits and requesting administrative disciplinary action, to combat the recent trend toward the sale of counterfeit products over the internet and social media.
Employee Education
The Yamaha Group conducts employee education programs to promote the appropriate use and management of intellectual property.
In addition to holding annual in-house copyright seminars targeting intellectual property representatives, we regularly conduct study sessions that are specially tailored for specific divisions and Group companies. Furthermore, all Yamaha Group employees are administered tests to gauge their basic knowledge on copyrights, patents, and trademarks as part of our efforts to raise intellectual property literacy.