New Japanese I/P Court

On March 30, 3005, the Daily Yomuri On-Line reported that Katsumi Shinohara, a judge of the Tokyo High Court and will become the first chief judge of the Intellectual Property High Court to be established in Tokyo on Friday. The new court will reportedly have 18 judges, and will serve as the court of first instance over whether the Patent Office's decisions are appropriate. It also will serve as a court of appeal, after Tokyo and Osaka district courts, on compensation suits concerning the infringement of patent rights and injunctions.

The new court will appoint 110 part-time experts on two-year contracts. "The participation of first-class scholars in hearings makes us judges understand the background to developments in technology that can't be easily ascertained from relevant proof," said Judge Shohara. "With the system, the parties will be more likely to accept the rulings and the possibility of a court-mediated settlement will increase."