Japan will amend the law to prohibit the sale of counterfeit goods in the universe

On March 10, the Japanese government finalized the amendment to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, which prohibits the sale of counterfeit goods in the cyberspace “Meta Universe”, at the cabinet meeting on March 10, to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights in the digital era. In order to support the brand strategy of enterprises, the government will submit a package of intellectual property laws consisting of six bills to the current Congress. The amendments to the Trademark Law will facilitate the registration of names and trademarks.

Interpretation of this information:

The Japanese government has recently passed the amendment to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law that prohibits the sale of counterfeit goods in the “Meta Universe” or cyberspace, aiming to reinforce the protection of intellectual property rights in the digital era. This move reflects the government’s support towards enterprises’ brand strategies by submitting a package of intellectual property laws consisting of six bills to the current Congress. The amendment to the Trademark Law will make the registration of names and trademarks more accessible.

The Anti-Unfair Competition Law has been enforced in Japan since 1993, and the latest amendment came after the growing concern of the prevalence of counterfeit goods sold online, especially in the Meta Universe, a virtual reality where users can buy and sell digital products, including fashion and luxury items. The new law prohibits the sale and production of fake products, as well as any activities related to them, such as providing false information or exaggerating product descriptions. Moreover, it aims to make platform operators accountable for the distribution of counterfeit goods by making them responsible for monitoring and deleting any items that violate intellectual property rights. This amendment is a crucial step towards protecting original products and brands and thereby supporting the growth of the creative industry in Japan.

With the package of intellectual property laws that the government will submit to the current Congress, Japan aims to strengthen its intellectual property system by improving the registration process, among other things. The proposed amendments to the Trademark Law will simplify and expedite the registration process by introducing an electronic application system and allowing the registration of unconventional trademarks like sounds and motions. By doing so, Japan hopes to encourage a wider range of applicants to register their trademarks, which will increase the competitiveness of the Japanese market.

In conclusion, the recent amendment to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law is a significant step towards protecting intellectual property rights in the digital era. The package of intellectual property laws, including the amendment to the Trademark Law, is designed to support the growth of the creative industry in Japan by improving the accessibility and efficiency of the registration process. The three keywords that summarize the content are Anti-Unfair Competition Law, intellectual property rights, and Trademark Law.