Like most organizations, intellectual property offices (IPOs) have faced significant challenges in recent years. From the pandemic to financial market turmoil, through supply chain issues, to increased cyberthreats, IPOs have had to navigate these hurdles and more, stretching their budget, information technology, and organizational resources in unexpected ways. Yet, IP registrations have been soaring globally, and IPOs generally seem to have been riding those waves with success, often transforming challenges into opportunities to evolve and better meet the needs of creators, businesses, and the market.

Beyond their role as processors of IP applications and registrations or an inventory of registered assets, how do IPOs envision their mission in 2023? What sort of initiatives do they carry out to ensure they stay in tune with innovators, businesses big and small, and the market at large? How much of a transformative force can they be for the IP world?

Our guest today is Hamano Koichi, the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO). Appointed in July 2022, he manages JPO operations and oversees Japan’s policy on patents, trademarks, and design rights. Prior to chairing JPO, Mr. Hamano has served in a wide range of senior roles at the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), including as Director of the Finance Division, Business Environment Department; Counselor for Energy Policy; Executive Vice President and Advisor of Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC); and Director-General of the Regional Economic and Industrial Policy Group, among others.

Thank you to Wanhuida Intellectual Property for sponsoring this episode of Brand & New.

Related Resources

About Hamano Koichi

Inaugural Address – HAMANO Koichi, JPO Commissioner

United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs – Sustainable Development

International perspectives: Intellectual property, small and medium-sized enterprises, and global markets