Nihon Superior Recognized for Achievement in Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property Achievement Awards are presented to companies that actively contribute to the expansion and development of the Japanese industrial property rights system. Particularly, the citation refers to Nihon Superior as a “company of good standing that by making effective use of the Japanese industrial property rights system provided a demonstration of the value of the Japan Patent Office.”

Both METI and JPO have been presenting these awards since 1987. The three categories of Achievement in Intellectual Property are patent, trademark and design. Nihon Superior received the award for “Enterprises Excelling in Patent Utilization.”

Candidates for the awards were nominated by METI, JPO and organizations involved in intellectual property. The winners in each category were selected by a committee of independent experts appointed by the JPO Commissioner. The committee made its choice on the basis of a review of the documentation supporting the case and interviews with representatives of the candidate companies.

The chief criterion for selection was the extent to which management had implemented strategies to develop intellectual property and the use of R&D for that purpose.

For Nihon Superior, the reasons cited for the award were:
1. The company’s prompt response to the EU RoHS Directive on eliminating lead from electronic circuitry that resulted in the granting of patents in 24 countries and regions.

2. Avoiding price competition by the exclusive use of high-quality technology effectively protected by patent and maintaining ongoing activity to strengthen the patent and provide the basis for new patents.

3. Improving global competitiveness by investing in collaborative research at foreign universities.

The use of licensing to ensure fast adoption of the patented technology by overseas companies also was recognized as a key part of Nihon Superior’s intellectual property strategy.

Encouraged by this award, Nihon Superior is even more deeply committed to research directed toward the development of new intellectual property that will form the basis for a growing range of innovative products.