ABSTRACT
The valuation of intellectual property is, in general, standardised by the valuation of monetary issues. However, it is an evaluation at the societal level that counts when it comes to medical issues. Although this attitude seems native to Japan, it would appear that such a socially important issue as medicine is an exception from intellectual property from the point of view of it existing to serve the public. Similarly, university academism may also be considered to be an exception due to its socially prominent nature and traditional distance from commercialisation.
