As a well-known brand, Nikon is deeply loved by avid photographers throughout the world. Recently, CIP News reporter came to Nikon Imaging (China) Sales Company Beijing Branch to see how they manage and protect their IPRs. "IP is closely related to Nikon's business idea of Trust and Creative. Nikon has been advocating brand-boosted innovations to earn trust from our global customers with creatively high-quality products and services,"  Hideya Inoue told CIP News reporter.

Nikon highlights Chinese market

"China, has been a vital perennial market for Nikon with a huge number of followers," said Hideya Inoue, Director of Nikon IP Department. "In December 1984, Nikon participated in an exhibition at the Capital Gymnasium, gave an overview of our products, and held seminars accordingly as well, that means Nikon's entry into Chinese market. Moreover, Nikon registered some related trademarks in China as early as June 1978."said Hideya Inoue.

In 1978, Hideya Inoue started his IPR career at Nikon Company.

"Nikon knows exactly that our competitors are also taking China very seriously and thus we are not completely immune from IPR disputes. Run-ins might occur with both Chinese companies and our global competitors having presence here. So the tomorrow's IPR department in China will have direct responsibility for collecting, sorting information and coordinating local lawyers and IP investigation firms," Hideya Inoue told CIP News reporter, currently, NIkon is developing a close cooperation mechanism with China's local IP firms, IP investigation firms, and strengthening information exchange as well. Nikon wishes to stay tuned to China's legal updates in a timely manner through these efforts.

step up crack down IP infrigment

When asked about Nikon's IPR work in China, Hideya Inoue provided some data, which reveals that Nikon now has a total of 186 registered trademarks and 712 trademark applications in China. "The most important work in China is to register 尼康, Nikon, COOLPIX and NIKKOR throughout the categories. In these years, the number of Nikon's trademark applications has increased sharply in China".

Hideya Inoue also admits: "Though the number of Nikon's IPR applications keeps growing in recent years, it is slightly less than other industry top dogs." As to the relation between IPR quality and quantity, Hideya Inoue have his own opinion: "I have always believed that IPR quality is more important than quantity. However, they are not mutually exclusive. If it is a high-quality IPR application—a core IPR application—is authorized, right-holder can file more applications based on it.

In addition, Nikon launches joint campaign against fake goods with Chinese authorities of commerce and industry, the Customs, and public security. "From April 2011 to March 2012, Nikon reported 34 cases to administrative law-enforcement agencies, and the Customs handled 9 cases. The staff of these authorities are very dedicated and the work they did is excellent, so we are quite grateful to them. In the future, we will strength the campaign as well as the work of publicity and publish relevant announcements on official websites in order to help consumers distinguish the false from the genuine. Furthermore, we will continue to work with China's relevant departments and participate in some meetings so as to crack down on fake and shoddy products. "

The development of Nikon in China in these years enables Hideya Inoue to notice China's progress in IPR. "I sense that Chinese government attaches great importance to IPR, especially to innovation. Chinese government has realized that IPR can promote economic development and therefore had made many strong policies. It supports enterprises in bringing advanced technology fast to market to benefit consumers under the premise of fair competition, which is a very good tendency to foreign enterprises investing in China.

With China being one of Nikon's most important markets, Hideya Inoue expresses his hope on Nikon's future trademark work in China, "we will intensify our work in this area. In addition, we will endeavor to make the trademark 'COOLPIX' identified as a well-known trademark, and contribute our efforts to the development of the camera and lens industries".

(China IP News)