Japan to fund "better use" of African IP

Japan News Review, citing "unnamed government sources" today, reports that Japan plans to create a 110 million yen fund later this year to further its efforts to help African countries protect and make better use of intellectual property. The fund will be one of Japan’s top agenda items at this summer’s G8 summit which is to be held in Toyako, Hokkaido. When the plan is presented on Tuesday, its details will indicate how much of the fund is to be spent on IP admininstration and infrastructure, how much on education to raise IP consciousness and how much on helping develop R&D.