The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Established a Research Group to Strengthen and Promote Japanese Design Efforts

In July, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) established a research group whose job it is to consider industrial competitiveness and design as well as to summarize the challenges and countermeasures needed for strengthening the competitiveness of Japanese companies’ designs.
This development follows from the severe price competition that emerges between Japanese companies and emerging-market companies. Even if Japanese companies develop and sell products of superior quality and function, the products are immediately imitated and sold by emerging-market companies making competition fierce and difficult.
Meanwhile, western companies such as the American company, Apple, and the British company, Dyson, protect not only their proprietary technologies through patents but also seek design protection in order to enhance the value of their products which helps them expand globally.
Moreover, not just western companies but also various Asian companies in places such as China and South Korea are also focusing on developing the protection of designs.
In light of this situation, METI has a set up this research group to study the link between industrial competitiveness and design protection and to promote awareness of design protection to domestic enterprises and increase international competiveness.
In order to achieve their goals, the research group will meet once a month to compile evidence and exchange their opinions. The culmination of these meetings will be the development of an action plan and a determination as to whether the group recommends that any amendments to design law are necessary. The group hopes to release this action plan next March.