Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� July, 2002

Fifth Meeting of the Strategic Council on Intellectual Property Wednesday, July 3, 2002 The fifth meeting of the Strategic Council on Intellectual Property was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, a decision was made on the "Outline for Intellectual Property Strategy," which is a comprehensive policy toward achieving the goal of making Japan a nation that is built on the platform of intellectual property. Chairman Hiroyuki Abe handed the Outline to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. As it is necessary to promote strategic measures toward all the areas of creating, protecting and applying intellectual property in the intellectual creation cycle as well as the enrichment of the human foundation, this Outline proposes that the Government undertake systemic reforms relating to intellectual property in a focused and planned manner by FY2005. Furthermore, the Outline also proposes to establish the "Basic Law on Intellectual Property (provisional name)" by the Ordinary Session of the Diet in 2003, which includes the idea of revitalizing the intellectual creation cycle as a national goal and the establishment of an "Intellectual Property Strategic Headquarters (provisional name)" to lead cross-sectoral reforms spanning all ministries and agencies. After receiving the Outline, Prime Minister Koizumi addressed the Council, stating, "The Intellectual Property Strategy is one major pillar supporting economic revitalization strategies. To make this Outline a reality, I would like to establish a preparatory office on July 5 and start toward achieving the goal of making Japan a nation that is built on the platform of intellectual property.