IP: Japan -- Tokyo Report - part 2

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

GG and I are back in body -- our minds are in the middle of the pacific. 


After Kobe (reported on in part 1) we went to Tokyo where I gave a talk on
the GII -- opportunities and concerns. I have an audio of that talk and will
put it up on Real Audio soon. 


The MPT Advances in Telecom - 7 was interesting. The main points I got out
of the  Japanese co-speakers were that the intellectual property problems
may be a show stopper for digital libraries. Kyoto has a prototype DL with
only one work -- the Professors due to the IP problem. 


My speech addressed the possible problems on the international front with
Exon laws and IP laws becoming common around the world. Just how this
will/could inhibit the net evolution was the substance of the last part of
my talk.


I visited Toshiba Research Labs and was very impressed with the depth and
quality of their research organization. Work in mobility and networking
(ATM) was especially interesting.


Some random items:


o lots of enthusiasm for the World Internet Expo but very little
understanding of where it fits. Lots more enthusiasm than I have seen in the
US. That may be the newness of widespread networking in Japan (relatively).


o lots of dissatisfaction with the government and it's workings. Still a lot
of "Tokyo is a dangerous place" due to the gas attacks and dismay with the
response to the Quake.


o still no effective mechanisms for starting small venture opportunities in
high tech areas. Getting better but very slowly


o no good gadgets in Akihabara. The Sony NT2 digital tape unit got delayed
till next year. There was the new digital video but that was , while nice,
high priced and bulky right now.


o Handy phone is expanding. Soon -- real soon effective digital links to PDA
etc. 


Stores were full of XMas cheer. One shopping center had an artificial snow
storm to ring in the season. Real strange hearing religious xmas carols in a
land of 2% Christians.


The food in Tokyo is getting better and better (and more expensive for
french). I found myself rapidly back in my sabbatic thinking on prices and
noted to GG that the simple 1500 yen lunch was cheap -- thats $15 for Soba
and some shrimp.


Looking forward to next visit.


Dave