The Japanese FTC and the Government propose draft guidelines for business collaboration between large companies and startups for the purpose of promoting open innovation and ensuring fair and free competitive environments

On December 23, 2020, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") proposed a draft of Guidelines for Business Collaboration with Startups ("Guidelines") for the purpose of promoting open innovation and ensuring fair and free competitive environments. [1] They are seeking comments from the public. Comments are due by January 25, 2021. At the Future Investment Conference held on April 3, 2020, the Cabinet of Japan discussed the policy for promoting open innovation and ensuring fair and free competitive environments. For the purpose of achieving innovation by business collaboration, it decided to prepare guidelines that outline problematic cases and proposed remedial measures and points of view under the Anti-Monopoly Act ("AMA") to prevent