[Danieru]

This is a big deal for YKK.

Until a few years ago they had a hold on the upper end of the market. The chinese competitor's quality was unreliable enough that clothing manufacturers were willing to pay a premium to ensure a failed zipper does not trash a garment. That situation has been changing, and chinese companies are offering zippers which are getting used on progressively higher end products.

By releasing a new product with substantial changes and thus patentability they can buy a few decades at the top of the market. I suspect this technology has been in development for a long time, and held back until competitors were threatening the premium traditional zipper market.

[harimau777]

YKK still has the advantage in that they are known for quality. I use YKK in my sewing because I can count on them being good. On the other hand, I don't know which Chinese manufactuers are reliable.

[dingnuts]

why would China respect a Japanese patent?

[Marsymars]

They may not, but you can't really sell patent-violating products at scale in patent-respecting countries without opening yourself up to lawsuits.

[Our_Benefactors]

They won’t, but clothing manufacturers will or they’ll be subject to Japanese lawsuits.

[mmooss]

They want Japan to respect Chinese patents, and they want to benefit from trade with Japan.