The blueprint for such an effort was mapped out in 1993 by the Japanese Patent Office, which presides over an economy that has, in the past at least, proved somewhat better at exploiting advanced American inventions than at coming up with its own.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

While such patents -- a term believed to have been coined by the Japanese Patent office -- have been exploited from time to time since 1965 when they were first identified in the Patent Examiners' Handbook, there are available remedies well short of legislation that would effectively undermine the entire U.S. patent system.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

At the U.S. Patent Office Japanese firms (like Canon, Sony, NEC, Toshiba and others) consistently place in the top 10 or 20 of annual patent grantees.

FORBES: The 'Chapan' M & A Wave