Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� May, 2004

The Eighth Meeting of the Intellectual Property Policy Headquarters Thursday, May 27, 2004 The Eighth Meeting of the Intellectual Property Policy Headquarters was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, the "Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2004" was decided upon. The Basic Law on Intellectual Property defines that the Promotion Plan shall be reviewed at least once a year, taking into consideration the changes in the conditions surrounding intellectual properties. The Promotion Plan 2004 decided upon at this meeting includes measures covering 400 items with fundamental reinforcement of measures against counterfeit and pirated copies; promotion of expeditious examination of patent applications; support for small and medium-sized enterprises and venture businesses as well as to the region; and advancement of content businesses, as its pillars. Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "I ask for your cooperation for the realization of this Promotion Plan that we have decided today."