The AGC Group will promote fair trade and conduct its operations in accordance with the principle of fair competition and related laws and regulations.

Global Legal Management System

In 2006, we established a system to report disputes and litigations on a monthly and as-required basis. This system is designed for the prompt identification and management of disputes and lawsuits throughout the Group. Through this global legal management system, dispute- and litigation-related information is collected at the Group General Counsel level; the Counsel then reports the information to top management. Utilizing this system, and in cooperation with the Regional General Counsels and related departments, we are working to reduce the Group's legal risks.
In addition, we are implementing both organizational and personnel measures in response to the Group's global legal needs, including the assignment of an employee dedicated to legal issues in Shanghai, and holding legal meetings attended by members from the United States, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Russia, etc., where relevant policies are shared and confirmed. Reports on disputes and litigations and the progress of the global legal management system are submitted regularly to the Board of Directors.

Global Legal Management System

A system to promptly identify and report disputes and litigations occurring across the AGC Group on a global basis, and to reduce legal risks

*1 Strategic Business Units (SBUs)

Compliance with Antitrust Laws

The entire AGC Group is committed to complying with antitrust laws by setting relevant guidelines in addition to the AGC Group Code of Conduct. To this end, we are implementing various measures, including providing compliance education on antitrust laws by region and organization, monitoring participation in trade organizations and performing internal audits on compliance with the guidelines, among other measures.

Measures implemented in fiscal 2010 to prevent noncompliance with antitrust laws (AGC Group)

Prevention of Insider Trading

The AGC Group is committed to preventing insider trading to protect its shareholders and investors and contribute to the fairness and reliability of the securities market. We clearly prohibit insider trading in the common fundamental global principle of the AGC Group Code of Conduct and raise awareness of this rule across the Group through online training and the Code of Conduct compliance certifications that are submitted by employees. Moreover, in Japan, we have our own rules on the prevention of insider trading and on the Information Management Council. Based on these rules, if an AGC Group director/employee has concerns about commencing a trade, the chairman of the council (Group CFO) will check the legality of the trade in advance, thereby preventing insider trading.

Information Security

The AGC Group promotes appropriate storage, use, and management of information and information assets based on its Information Security Policy and Standard (formulated in 2001) and its Information Security Guidelines (published in 2007). Also, we are steadily implementing a Plan, Do, Check, and Act (PDCA) cycle to continuously improve information security through education measures such as e-learning and collective training, self-checks, and internal audits.
Also with regard to the nodes that connect the AGC Group intranet with the Internet and to the management of the user IDs and passwords of the administrators of important IT devices, we diagnose the vulnerability and implement necessary measures on a regular basis.
In fiscal 2010, the AGC Group (Asia including Japan) provided employees with information security education through e-learning and also provided the employees of major Group companies with collective training. Employees in charge of information security at Asahi Glass and Group companies in Asia also communicated directly with each other to foster information security measures.
Throughout fiscal 2011, we will continue to improve the security level of the entire AGC Group by encouraging Group companies to heighten information security measures and promoting localized measures at each site or region of the Group.

Self-checks on information security in fiscal 2010 (AGC Group)

Measures for Intellectual Property Rights

The AGC Group regards intellectual property rights, such as patents, utility model rights, trademarks, and design rights (collectively "patents etc.") and copyrights as important intangible assets. As a global business entity, we have proactively obtained these rights to utilize them in our business operations across the world and we make strict responses to any infringements of our intellectual property rights by other companies in compliance with the local laws and regulations of each country.
We have also built systems, which include employee education, to respect the intellectual property rights of others and avoid any illegal infringements on these rights. We mandate our development departments to make continuous investigations on the patents and utility model rights of other companies as part of the R&D process.
We also conduct surveys on registered patents etc. before releasing new products or beginning new business activities.