The 14th Waseda-Penn Global Patent Law Conference
We are excited to host the next iteration of the Waseda-Penn Global Patent Law Conference, again discussing two topics that are of great significance in Japanese and international patent law practice. See information on speakers and on how to register below.
Date: May 24, 2025 (Saturday) 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
Location: Komatsu Centennial Hall, Waseda University Research Innovation Center
Languages: Japanese & English (simultaneous translation)
Hosting Institutions: RCLIP, University of Pennsylvania Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Waseda University School of Law, Tsinghua University School of Law
Conference Overview: As usual, the conference will feature two topics, one substantive patent law topics and one more procedural patent law topic. The first panel will focus on the evolving standards of enablement and sufficiency of disclosure under U.S., European, Japanese, and Chinese patent law. These questions have gained renewed importance in light of recent landmark decisions affecting innovation-driven sectors such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, most notably the Amgen v. Sanofi decision by the US Supreme Court in 2022. Among the featured speakers, Judge Leonard P. Stark of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will share his perspectives, drawing on his pivotal role in developing modern U.S. enablement doctrine especially through his earlier judgments as Chief Judge of the District of Delaware. Former IP High Court Chief Judge Takabe, who presided over parts of the Amgen v. Sanofi litigation in Japan, will offer valuable insights into the Japanese approach. Professor Timo Minssen, Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law (CeBIL) at the University of Copenhagen and a leading European authority on biomedical innovation and IP law, will provide comparative and theoretical perspectives. The discussion will also address how Chinese patent law is approaching similar issues in the wake of recent legislative reforms and evolving judicial practices.
The second panel will address preliminary injunctive relief in patent litigation — a continuously evolving area that remains of critical importance to litigation strategy worldwide. With the launch of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Europe, preliminary injunctions have taken on new significance, and the panel will examine early trends and strategic considerations. Developments in the United States, Japan, and China, will also be discussed, offering a cross-jurisdictional view on interim enforcement measures in global patent disputes.
In addition to the speakers mentioned, the conference will feature a distinguished group of judges, senior practitioners, and leading academics who will contribute further practical and comparative insights. Their wide-ranging expertise will ensure a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion across all sessions. The audience will be able to address all panelists during a Q&A session, and can directly engage with the panelists during the networking reception.
Conference Program:
10:30 – 13:00: Panel 1: Patent Disclosure: Enablement & Written Description
Moderator: Prof. Masabumi Suzuki (Waseda University)
Panelists:
Hon. Leonard Stark (Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)
Hon. Makiko Takabe (Former Chief Judge, IP High Court of Japan; Visiting Professor, Waseda University)
Prof. Polk Wagner (University of Pennsylvania)
Prof. Timo Minssen (University of Copenhagen; Director, Centre for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law)
Prof. Guobin Cui (Tsinghua University)
Prof. Takeshi Maeda (Tokyo University)
13:00 - 14:30: Lunch
14:30 - 16:30: Panel 2: Preliminary Injunctive Relief
Moderator: Prof. Christoph Rademacher (Waseda University)
Panelists:
Prof. Axel Metzger (Humboldt University Berlin)
Hon. John Murphy (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania)
Hon. Tamotsu Shoji (former Presiding Judge, IP High Court of Japan; Attorney, TMI Associates)
Chinese judge (tbc)
Dr. Christof Karl (Attorney & Patent Attorney; UPC Representative, Bardehle)
16:30 - 17:30: Post-conference Reception