Japanese IP management
A number of features of Japanese Industry not
least the fact that much leading writing on knowledge management is based on the experience of
ŽJapanese companies Nonaka and Takeuchi, 1995;.
Baba and Nobeoka, 1998 , makes the management
of intellectual property and particularly patents by
Japanese companies particularly interesting. Firstly,
Japan’s IP system exemplifies a learning culture.
Secondly, it occupies an intermediary position in the
global flow of technology. Thirdly, it is an example
of a country which has been slowly developing its
use of IP law from a view which promotes diffusion
towards one which promotes both diffusion and protection and perhaps latterly one with an increasing
emphasis on protection.