Japanese sometimes see China and Korea as the great infringers of intellectual property, but the Japan Patent Office sees the buying and selling of counterfeit and other infringing items in Japan as a problem that cannot be ignored. Fearing increases of commerce in counterfeit products among young people, particularly with the increased use of e-commerce tools under COVID-19, it has put together a campaign page and even sample lessons for high schools to use to educate on intellectual property infringement.[1]
A high school in Tokyo Prefecture held a “model” class under the guidance of the JPO, and the JPO reported on it to promote further spread of the information and warnings.[2] It produced manga and video to go along with it. One cultural feature of the program is the importance of pressing peers not to buy or sell counterfeits, as this kind of pressure is so powerful in Japanese culture.[3]
Will the social pressures of these kinds of classes help cut back on counterfeit product purchases? We simply do not know, but hopefully they will.
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Taro Yaguchi
Sources
[1] ICT Kyoiku News. “特許庁、高校1年生を対象に知的財産権侵害防止教育のモデル授業を実施 [Japan Patent Office offers model class on intellectual property infringement prevention education to first-year high schoolers].” https://ict-enews.net/2021/02/22jpo/ February 22, 2021. Accessed February 25, 2021.
[2] Japan Patent Office. “高等学校における「知的財産権侵害防止教育」学習指導案 [Lesson plan suggestions for high school ‘intellectual property infringement prevention education].” Accessed February 25, 2021.
[3] Japan Patent Office. “スペシャルマンガムービー『コピー商品を買わない 売らない 買わせない！』 [Special manga movie ‘I won’t buy, sell, or let others buy counterfeit products!’].” Accessed February 25, 2021.
