International Intellectual Property Affairs, Manager Candidate/Member - Intellectual Property
RakutenBusiness Overview
Rakuten Group provides more than 70 services in a wide range of fields, including e-commerce, travel, digital content, and other Internet services in Japan and overseas, as well as financial services such as credit cards, banking, securities, electronic money, and smartphone app payments, mobile services such as mobile carrier services, and professional sports. By organically linking these services through a membership system centered on Rakuten members, Rakuten has created a unique “Rakuten ecosystem” that is unlike any other.
Department Overview
At Rakuten, we are focused on expanding the Rakuten Mobile (mobile communications) business, a critical strategic area for the Rakuten Group, and on growing Rakuten Symphony, which provides the fully virtualized, cloud-native mobile network developed in Japan to customers worldwide. We are seeking new team members to support the intellectual property activities for both the Rakuten Mobile business and the Rakuten Symphony business.
Position:
Why We Hire
- We recognize the need to further strengthen our Intellectual Property Licensing function and are therefore seeking to recruit exceptional talent from outside of the Rakuten group.
- Rakuten Mobile established its Intellectual Property Department several years ago. Since then, the team has expanded to Japan and India, and we have rapidly built a worldwide patent portfolio, including Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). We are now looking to hire a Licensing Specialist to further enhance our IP licensing operations.
- Rakuten's mobile business is actively pursuing international expansion, and with development centers both in Japan and overseas, we are not merely filing foreign applications. Instead, we are establishing a global intellectual property structure by strategically deploying numerous IP bases abroad and forming a diverse, multinational team.
- As the business grows, the intellectual property team responsible for the mobile business has also rapidly expanded. Given the high interest in IP activities, we frequently communicate directly with top management. We also regularly present at company-wide morning meetings. True to an IP department within a company that is overturning industry norms in telecommunications, we conduct IP activities at the forefront of mobile communication and are committed to building new and original IP management systems.
Position Details
- Negotiating intellectual property licenses (especially patents and trademarks) in fields such as mobile communication, video streaming, e-commerce.
- Mapping the claims against the relevant technical standards, products.
- Experience in analyzing and leveraging Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) (3GPP or O-RAN Alliance) is highly desirable.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts relevant to our business areas (e.g., license agreements, development outsourcing agreements, vendor agreements, partnership agreements, terms of service).
- Frequent use of English in both internal and external meetings. The ability to hold your own in English negotiations is essential.
Work Environment
Organizational Structure
- Team Size: 30+ members.
- Age Range: Evenly distributed from 20s to 60s.
- New Graduate vs. Mid-Career Ratio: The vast majority are mid-career hires, with only a very small number of new graduates.
Mid-career hires come from diverse backgrounds, including corporate intellectual property departments, patent law firms, and IP research firms.
Mandatory Qualifications:
- Experience in patent license negotiations (both as licensor and licensee are acceptable). Experience in the field of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) is a strong plus.
- TOEIC score of 800 or higher, or business-level English proficiency (requiring strong speaking and listening skills).
Desired Qualifications:
- Licensed Attorney/Patent Attorney in Japan or another country.
- Grade 1 Certified Intellectual Property Management Specialist.
- Experience living or working abroad in an English-speaking country, or results from English proficiency tests such as Eiken or TOEFL, are a plus.
- Business-level Japanese proficiency.
Other Information:
Additional information on Location
Rakuten Crimson House
14-1 Tamagawa 1 chome, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Additional information on Secondment
You will be hired directly by Rakuten Group, Inc. but there is a possibility of secondment to Rakuten Mobile, Inc. or Rakuten Symphony, Inc. (Compensation and work location will remain unchanged).
Additional information on Transfer
Domestic and international business travel, as well as potential for international relocation, may be required.
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