Preface of the editor

This follow-up symposium […] was held at the European Patent Office in Munich on September 23, 2009. After an introductory overview of patent litigation proceedings in Japan and Germany that highlighted the similarities and differences of the two systems, specific topics of common interest in Japanese and German patent infringement proceedings were each presented by Japanese and German judges respectively. In addition, a Japanese attorney-at-law, a speaker from Japanese industry and a Japanese patent attorney presented views on the system and practice of Japanese patent litigation. A panel discussion with questions from the audience concluded the symposium. Thus this symposium offered the rare opportunity of a practice-oriented comparison of patent dispute proceedings in Japan and Germany, two leading industrial countries whose legal systems are generally similar but distinct in detail.

[Excerpt from the Preface of the editor]