Sumitomo Chemical Joins "IP Open Access Declaration Against COVID-19"

Jun. 1, 2020

Sumitomo Chemical announced that it has joined the “Intellectual Property Open Access Declaration Against COVID-19” (hereinafter referred to as “the Declaration”).

The gist of the Declaration is that participants will not assert any intellectual property rights under certain conditions against any activities whose sole purpose is stopping the spread of COVID-19, including R&D, production and sales.

Sumitomo Chemical affirms the purpose of the Declaration and declares that it will not assert the rights of patents, utility models, designs and copyrights against activities whose sole purpose is stopping the spread of COVID-19, under the conditions described in the Declaration and its attachment. It will also consider the possibility of collaboration with other companies and groups to fight against COVID-19, in full respect and furtherance of the spirit of the Declaration.

The Sumitomo Chemical Group has contributed to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 to date through various measures, such as providing plastic sheets as materials for medical gowns, funding startups developing diagnostic sensors for COVID-19, and donating masks and gowns to the medical frontlines. While continuing to cooperate with the government and industry groups, the Sumitomo Chemical Group will consider ways of maximizing its efforts towards an early end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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