Introduction to Japanese Business Law & Practice is an ideal first point of reference on Japanese business law in the English language. It provides a concise and reader-friendly overview of all Japan’s major laws relevant to 21st century corporate and financial enterprises, with a practical emphasis on international business topics such as the cross-border flow of goods, services and capital funds.Each chapter was authored by a team of specialist lawyers, supported by a team of researchers. This text provides insight for modern businesses on Japan’s major legislative fields in a practical and concise manner.This edition includes the “new companies act” which is due to be enforced in April 2015. The change is so important for Japanese business related to corporate governance.In an increasingly globalized world economy, the cross-border flow of goods, services, capital funds and other business activity has become increasingly commonplace. To facilitate these transactions, efforts to harmonize laws and regulations through model laws, multi-national legislation such as EU law, and bilateral and multi-lateral treaties have gained popularity and prominence. Despite this trend, in reality, each sovereign nation still possesses a system of law with unique features. In this sense ‘national borders’ will inevitably continue to exist in the world of law.Accordingly, it remains essential for multinational enterprises to have an accurate and current understanding of the laws and regulations in each of the countries and jurisdictions in which they conduct business.

Elliott Hahn provides Western business leaders and their attorneys with an understanding of the complexities of the Japanese business and legal systems. It presents an overview of Japanese business law, a detailed analysis of the specific role of attorneys in Japan, and enlightenment on the Japanese legal interpretation of important issues such as anti-trust, contract, and patent and trademark laws. Hahn provides practical guidance for the Westerner on how to negotiate and act within the Japanese legal system and the specifics of Japanese business, licensing, and contract law. Finally, he gives the reader insights into many of the nuances underlying the beliefs, customs, modes of behavior, and values of the Japanese people. Tables, charts, and graphs complete this valuable information source.

Max Planck Series on Asian Intellectual Property Law Volume 18 Indisputably, Japan is today a major hub of product design, and designs made in Japan play an influential role in the world across a wide range of industries. This is the first and only book in English to provide a detailed overview and discussion of product design protection and practice under Japanese law. In addition to expert analysis of the application of design law by Japanese courts and the Japan Patent Office (including the far-reaching 2020 amendments), the book features seven contributions by Japanese product designers from specific industries who describe the product design process in their industry and its legal ramifications worldwide. With in-depth description and analysis and many detailed explanatory figures and tables, the contributors cover such issues and topics as the following: ownership of design rights; requirements for design protection; application process for design registration; examination procedure; appeals and invalidity trials; design infringement and scope of protection; overlap of design and other intellectual property rights; design protection and competition law; international jurisdiction and governing law; and design rights and commercial transactions. Industry-specific chapters cover the application of design law in furniture, home appliances, cell phones, cars, advertising, product packaging, web design, and typeface design. The book concludes with a chapter highlighting differences in design law in Japan and the European Union. Given that Japanese design experts often note a lack of understanding of Japanese design law and practice by foreign companies, this book will appeal to law firm practitioners and in-house counsel involved in global design right portfolio management and design protection in Japan. It will also appeal to intellectual property scholars and product designers with an interest in Japanese design practice and law.

Compilations of cases with commentary – in Japanese Hanrei Hyakusen – often provide the most practical way to obtain a quick and reliable understanding of a specific field of law, as well as guidance on how best to proceed in specific situations. In this respect, leading cases much more than statutory provisions are essential for understanding the reality of Japanese commercial law. This incomparable book compiles 72 of the most important commercially relevant Japanese court decisions in the fields of civil law, labour law, company law, financial transactions, intellectual property, antitrust, conflict of laws, and arbitration. Each decision is presented in English translation and is accompanied by a practical and explanatory commentary by an expert in the field, be it from academia or private practice. There are 50 commentators in all, brought together here to honour the 60th birthday of Harald Baum, widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost scholars on Japanese business law. The cases encompass a wide reach of causes of action in fields such as: breach of contract; tort liability; product liability; unjust enrichment; collective bargaining; shareholders’ rights; directors’ duty of care; political donations; insider trading; patent infringement; parallel imports; trade mark rights; unfair competition; publicity rights; price fixing; arbitration agreements; and recognition of foreign judgements. Whether serving as practical guidance or as a basis for academic research, this compilation will be warmly welcomed by practicing lawyers, teachers and students of Japanese and international law, and all others who need to understand the various fields of Japanese commercial law.

This title provides an in-depth and comprehensive look at Japanese law, primarily looking at private law. Updated to include new case law, amendments, judgements, and Supreme Court cases since the last edition in 2009, this is an essential work for all dealing with Japanese law.