TCM reports that the Japanese Patent Office is increasing the maximum penalty for infringement of intellectual property rights by businesses from 150 million yen to 300 million yen (just under £1.5 million). Meanwhile, the maximum penalty for private defendants will be increased to a maximum prison terms of five years or fines of up to 5 million yen. The changes will be put before the Japanese Parliament next year and are expected to come into force during 2007.
The IPKat welcomes the changes to the extent that they are used to provide awards of damages that are truly compensatory.