◆Director： Naoya Oyuki
Biography
1971 Born in Suginami Ward, Tokyo; raised in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture
2000– Relocated to Nagano Prefecture (currently resides in Matsumoto City)
–2014 Engaged for approximately 18 and a half years in product design and development at an electronic equipment manufacturer
(Handled audio equipment, printers, optical devices, analytical instruments, medical devices, in-vehicle equipment, inspection devices, and mass-production manufacturing jigs)
2014– Entered the intellectual property field after passing the patent attorney examination
2015– Founded Azusagawa Patent Firm and assumed the position of Director
2018– Served as a patent attorney for Mebuki International Patent Firm
2019– Acted as a patent attorney for the International Intellectual Property Utilization Promotion Association, primarily engaged in preparing IP business evaⅼuation reports
2019– Co-founded LegalLight International Patent & Trademark Office (formerly Interlight International Patent & Trademark Office) with Patent Attorney Shuji Watanabe and assumed the role of Director (concurrently served as Director of Azusagawa Patent Office); this office focuses mainly on supporting overseas clients
2020– Co-founded Y’sPLACE LLC and served as Managing Partner until January 2021 (concurrently with the directorship of Azusagawa Patent Office; currently Ms. Yuriko Kumagai serves as Managing Partner); the company mainly provides services that make trademarks more accessible to general users
2023– Also active as a patent attorney at ALG International Patent & Trademark Office (Matsumoto)
2024– Serving as Director and Patent Attorney at AZPAT International Patent & Trademark Office (formerly Azusagawa Patent Office)
Qualifications
2014 Registered Patent Attorney (Registration No. 19981)
Memberships
Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
Japan Patent Attorneys Political Federation
Nagano Association of Invention
Matsumoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Matsumoto Corporate Association
Community and Professional Activities
JPAA Training Institute Committee Member (FY 2016–2017)
JPAA Tokai Branch Nagano Committee Member (FY 2016, FY 2020, FY 2021 as designated member)
Vice Chair, Management Training Committee, Matsumoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry Young Entrepreneurs Group (FY 2018)
Chair, Management Training Committee, Matsumoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry Young Entrepreneurs Group (FY 2019)
Vice President, Matsumoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry Young Entrepreneurs Group (FY 2021)
Consultation Advisor, Nagano Association of Invention (FY 2017–2018)
Expert Advisor (Consultant) for the INPIT/Nagano Association of Invention Support Program (FY 2016–present)
Patent Applications Filed as an Inventor
In-vehicle display devices
Portable medical inspection devices
11Portable food inspection devices
Industrial inspection instruments
Consumer audio equipment
◆Advisor： Hideharu Watanabe
Catchphrase
“Ippo Niho Sanpo”
(Trademark Registration No. 4146789)
Biography
1972
Graduated from the Department of Physics, School of Science, Nagoya University
1972–1995
Joined SANKYO SEIKI MFG. CO., LTD. (now NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION) and worked in the Patent Department
1995
Founded Watanabe International Patent & Trademark Office, the predecessor of Aiatt International Patent Firm
2000
Renamed the firm to Watanabe & Hasegawa International Patent & Trademark Office
2002
Established Aiatt International Patent Firm and assumed the position of Representative Director
2012–
Co-founded the International IP Utilization Promotion Association (general incorporated association) and became a Board Member
2013–2020
Served at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., Ltd. as Project Director for JPO-commissioned programs
2016–
Left Aiatt International Patent Firm and began working as an advisor and writer, leveraging his extensive experience;
Established Watanabe International Intellectual Property Office and assumed the position of Director
2019–
Co-founded Interlight International Patent & Trademark Office (predecessor of LegalLight International Patent & Trademark Office)
with Patent Attorney Naoya Oyuki and became Vice Director
Qualifications
1981
Registered Patent Attorney (Registration No. 8785)
Technical Expertise
Expertise in a broad range of fields including electromagnetics, optics, mechanical engineering, and surveying
Extensive experience in patents, designs, trademarks, contracts, copyrights, and IP consulting
Publications & Media Appearances
Publications
Essential Knowledge and Know-how Required in Technology-related Contracts
(PATENT, 2004, Vol. 57, No. 2)Field Report on Japanese Companies Expanding into China — Genuine IP and Business Insights Obtained Locally
(PATENT, 2009, Vol. 62, No. 10)Two Points Applicants Should Be Aware of After Patent Allowance and Related Proposals
(PATENT, 2014, Vol. 67, No. 6)
(Patent_2004_vol57 – Download Available)
(Patent_2009_vol62 – Download Available)
(Patent_2014_vol67 – Download Available)
Television News Appearances (as Commentator)
“MUJI” and “Crayon Shin-chan” Chinese trademark issues (2005, nationwide broadcast)
“Headline Icons” trademark issue (Super J Channel, March 18, 2008)
“Fish People” Taiwan trademark issue (2010, nationwide broadcast)
“China’s Knockoff Theme Parks—Not Just Copies! They’re Now Being Exported!”
(Super J Channel, May 26, 2012)“25% of Chiba Prefecture’s Place Names Found Registered as Trademarks in China”
(Super J Channel, October 4, 2012)“Tokyo Olympic Emblem Controversy — Similarity to Belgian Theater Logo”
(Good! Morning, July 31, 2015)“Designer Kenjiro Sano Creates New Controversy Amid Olympic Emblem Plagiarism Allegations”
(Good! Morning, August 14, 2015)
Achievements & Other Activities
Extensive experience handling registrations for patents, utility models, designs, trademarks, copyrights, and business model patents
Rich experience in invalidation trials, cancellation lawsuits, IP dispute resolution, patent opinions, patent analysis, and establishing patent portfolios
Nearly 200 contract-related support cases: technology transfer agreements, joint development agreements, NDAs, license agreements, patent and trademark assignment agreements, contract manuals, etc.
Participated in the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry’s “FY2015 IP-driven Business Support Program”;
Provided IP consulting, supported Shinshu University student IP internships, delivered over 50 IP seminarsStrong network with overseas associates, enabling global IP support
Provides IP consulting with a comprehensive view of corporate management, based on extensive business and company establishment experience