Toshio Nakajima

has engaged in the field of intellectual property at Mazda Motor Corporation since 1983 and served as manager of Intellectual Property Group since 2002. He manages broadly the field of intellectual property such as trademark, design patent, copyright, patent licensing negotiation and litigation at the present. In addition, he is also a member of Intellectual Property Planning Subcommittee of Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.

Recent Articles by Toshio Nakajima

IP Threats and Collaboration in the Auto Industry

In 1903, Henry Ford was hit with a patent lawsuit while watching his first automobiles get loaded into boxcars. IP issues have plagued the auto industry every since. Today, over 110 years later, automakers still deal with IP threats on a regular basis. The number of lawsuits filed against automakers by patent trolls rose from 17 in 2009 to 107 in 2014. These lawsuits often result in six and seven-figure settlements, and represent a serious drain on the automotive industry. With this spectre hanging over their heads, automakers can’t fully innovate, grow and prosper. It is time for the industry to band together and fight back.

February 17, 2016

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