翻訳コラム

企業や大学は、コロナ感染の防止に役立つ知的財産権30万件を無償開放すると発表しています。
「知的財産に関する新型コロナウイルス感染症対策支援宣言書」が発表され、コニカミノルタ、帝人、ニコンなどが賛同しているそうです。これは非常にありがたいことであり、これこそ特許の有効活用です。

新型コロナ/企業・大学、知財30万件無償開放　ワクチン・医療機器…開発など後押し
(日刊工業新聞)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00557043

これまで特許の無償開放のニュースを何度もこのブログで伝えてきましたが、今回の無償開放とは趣旨が違いました。
他社に自社の特許を知ってもらい、他社の市場参入を許し、結局は関連技術に関して自社が指揮を執るというのが狙いでした。
しかし今回の無償開放は、そのような特許戦略的なことではなく、真に社会のために技術を役立てたいという意図の下で行われます。
また、意匠や著作権なども無償開放されるという点も特徴です。
ここで疑問に思う人がいるでしょう。今後、有用な技術は特許を取る必要はないのでは?
発明を最初から社会のために役立つ発明は特許を取らずに開放すればよい、という考えもあるでしょう。
しかし特許を取ることにより、特許庁の審査を通った価値のある発明であることを証明できます。
だからこそ、人々は安心して使おうという気持ちになります。特に今回無償開放されるような人命にかかわる特許はそうでしょう。
今回、コンサートやドラマも無償開放されていますが、有名人の動画は圧倒的に再生回数が多いのと同じです。

Companies and universities announced the release of 300,000 intellectual properties royalty-free that will help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Declaration of Support for Measures Against Novel Coronavirus Infections Related with Intellectual Property (Open COVID-19 Declaration) has been released, with Konica Minolta, Teijin, Nikon, and other companies pledging their support. This is an efficient use of patents, and very much appreciated.

COVID-19 / Companies and Universities release 300,000 Intellectual Properties royalty-free to boost to the development […] of vaccines, medical equipment
(THE NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN,LTD.)
https://www.nikkan.co.jp/articles/view/00557043

I have reported on royalty-free releases of patents several times in this blog, however these had a different purpose to the release on this occasion.
Normally, the aim is for companies to share their patents with other companies, allowing these companies to enter the market, with the original company eventually overseeing any related technology.
However, the royalty-free release on this occasion is not a patent strategy such as above, but is implemented with genuine intentions of providing technology useful for society.
This royalty-free release is distinct in that it also covers designs and copyrights.
Some people may have some doubts at this point, and may start to consider whether useful technologies really require patents, and that inventions that help our society from the start should be released without being patented.
However, the act of being granted a patent proves that an invention is a valuable patent that has passed examination by the JPO.
That is precisely why people feel like using these inventions with ease, especially with patents associated with human life such as the royalty-free release on this occasion.
Music concerts and dramas are also available royalty-free, however videos of celebrities have the same overwhelmingly high number of views.