Risk of infringing or being subject to infringement of intellectual property rights
First written in FY2016. 2 of 4 entries say "Restated". Latest entry: FY2019.
World moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2019, 6 years before the typical company in this theme (2025).
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 9 of 59 companies on the "Worse" side.
7 other companies' latest entry also says "Worsened".
- FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「The Group owns intellectual property rights, including patents and trademarks, and has established a management structure, including the registration of trademarks in relevant countries and regions, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and internal rules. However, in some countries and regions, systems and frameworks for protecting intellectual property rights may not be sufficiently developed.」
In addition to the existing risks of infringement and having its rights infringed, the disclosure explicitly identifies inadequate intellectual property protection systems by country or region, the distribution of counterfeit goods, and the burden of litigation. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「If infringement of the rights of the Group by third parties or other such events result in a deterioration in the corporate or brand image or adversely affect product development, or if the Group inadvertently infringes the rights of a third party」
The Group continues to face the risk of infringing intellectual property rights and of its own intellectual property rights being infringed. - FY2017RestatedAnnual report
「If infringement of our group’s rights by a third party causes a decline in the corporate or brand image or adversely affects product development, or if our group is held liable for damages to a third party because it inadvertently infringed the third party’s rights, this may affect our group’s results of operations.」
Risks relating to infringement of, and infringement by others against, intellectual property rights continue to be disclosed. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「If infringement by a third party of the Group's rights causes a decline in our corporate or brand image or adversely affects product development, or if the Group inadvertently infringes a third party's rights and becomes liable for damages,」
The Group owns patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property and has established a management framework based on laws and internal rules.