The idea that a potential competitor can be disadvantaged
by the imposition of large licensing fees is
probably derived from the increase in licensing fees
paid for US technology by Japanese companies during
the 1980s. However, this again emphasises the general point that Japan is no longer just trying to
catch up with the West. It now holds technology that
is important to competitors now trying to catch up
with it and seeking technology from Japan. Whilst
this process began some years ago, the technology
now being sought is the most advanced available and
the hardening of IPR systems now also works in
Japan’s favour concerning other countries seeking its
technology. Some comments from managers in the
Korean company Samsung quoted in the Financial
Times recently are illustrative: