Bill would stiffen penalties against IP rights violators

The government plans to submit a bill to the Diet that would strengthen penalties against violators of intellectual property rights such as patents, trademarks and design rights by imposing a maximum 10-year prison term and 10 million yen fine on violators, officials said Monday.

The bill is set to be approved at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday and submitted to the current ordinary Diet session, with the government aiming to put the stiffer regulations in place by next year, they said.

The fines and prison terms for patent right infringements would be among the toughest in the world. The United States and Britain also can impose prison sentences of up to 10 years on those convicted of trademark violations, the officials said.