Mazda strives to ensure information security by appropriately managing and protecting personal information and other important information. The general manager of each division is responsible for the appropriate management of information based on the information management policies and rules formulated by the department responsible for centralized management of information handled throughout the Company.
Mazda has IT security management rules in place. The Company works to ensure information security group-wide by providing Group companies with guidelines for implementing information security and support for strengthening management systems.
Mazda rigorously protects personal information in accordance with all laws related to the protection of personal information as well as its own personal information protection policy.
Each of four divisions is charged with appropriate management of customer information, employee information, patient information (at the Mazda Hospital), and other (general) information, respectively. Internal audits are conducted once a year to check the status of information management. In cases where the handling of personal information is entrusted to outside parties, such contractors are carefully screened according to a specially created checklist.
The Mazda Call Center responds to customers who wish to inquire about the Company's handling of personal information and those who request disclosure regarding privacy issues.
Personal Information Protection Policy
The Company endeavors to adequately protect the personal information of its customers, business partners, employees and other parties in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Law and the basic guidelines described below.
- Mazda shall establish Regulations for the Protection of personal information, to be adhered to by all parties that handle personal information.
- Mazda shall put in place a presiding supervisor for the management of personal information, and provide corresponding educational activities for its employees (directors, employees, part-time workers, temporary agency workers, etc.) and other related persons.
- Mazda shall acquire personal information through appropriate means. When collecting personal information, Mazda shall either inform that person of the purposes of use and its contact address, or announce such information by a well-recognized method or methods (such as through a website).
- At Mazda, personal information shall be utilized only by those who have been authorized to manage such data, to the extent disclosed to the parties concerned or publicly announced, and the personal information shall be used only to that extent.
- Mazda shall take all necessary measures required by law, including obtaining consent from the relevant party for said provision of such personal information to a third party.
- If Mazda needs to assign a third party in any business relating to personal information, the Company shall select an appropriate assignee for said information, and take all necessary measures required by law, such as necessary and adequate supervision.
- If Mazda receive any claim for disclosure, correction, suspension, or elimination of all or any part of the personal information retained by the Company, the Company shall react appropriately in accordance with laws after the Company confirms that said claim was issued by the relevant party.
- Mazda shall ensure reasonable security measures, and continuously improve such measures to prevent illegal access, loss, destruction, falsification, and/or leakage of personal information.
To raise employee awareness about information security, Mazda requires employees to undertake training in the following two ways. In addition, on the Company's Intranet, Mazda hosts a dedicated site with useful tips and study materials on information security, with awareness-raising activities conducted on an ongoing basis. For Group companies, Mazda offers learning tools and other study support in order to elevate the level of information security awareness throughout the entire Group.
- Management of confidential information
- Group study for new employees (when employees join the Company, including mid-career hires)
- Personal information and IT security
- E-learning for new employees (when employees join the Company, including mid-career hires)
Mazda's overall vision for intellectual property is to use intellectual property as a management resource in support of its business management and enterprise activities, based on respect for its own and others' intellectual property.
Based on this vision, Mazda has established an Intellectual Property Committee, comprising division general managers from related divisions and chaired by an executive officer responsible for intellectual property issues.
Mazda's dedicated Intellectual Property Department leads company activities in terms of intellectual property, and conducts strategic activities aimed at protecting, accumulating, and making maximum use of the intellectual property generated through these activities.
In order to clearly convey a relevant code of conduct to all employees and guide their behavior, the Mazda Corporate Ethics Code of Conduct stipulates as follows: "Keep confidential information. Never infringe on any intellectual property right, whether it belongs to Mazda or another party."
Mazda's dedicated Intellectual Property Department is responsible for the overall management of intellectual property, and also regularly conducts awareness-raising activities to instill respect for intellectual property law.
- Obtains and protects, on a global level, the rights concerning intellectual property created by its business activities, including new technologies, markings, model names, and vehicle designs.
- Takes steps to prevent and solve any problems regarding intellectual property that may obstruct business activities in each domain, such as infringement of other parties' patent rights; trademark rights, design rights and copyrights; and violations of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
In awareness-raising activities, the Department offers instruction tailored to the management level and position of each employee and director in Mazda and each Group company, and to the type of intellectual property in question. In particular, the Department assigns to certain administrative staff members the duty of instructing employees on problems of copyright and violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act that can arise from use of the Internet.
In collaboration with related departments, the Intellectual Property Department makes a sustained effort to eliminate fake products to support and improve the strength of the Mazda brand and its trustworthiness, and to eliminate the risk to customers caused by the purchase of fakes.
- Mazda develops and implements its own measures against the sale of fake products.
- Mazda actively participates in programs organized by the private and public sectors against fakes.
- Mazda appoints permanent staff from among the most knowledgeable members of the Intellectual Property Department to liaise with countries and regions that are major sources of fake products. Working with government agencies and other agencies tasked with exposing fake products, these agents work to devise measures to stem their flow.
Mazda provides valuable support to its consolidated Group companies, both in Japan and overseas, in the drafting, implementation, and organization of policies for the handling of intellectual property. In this way, the Company promotes the enhancement of functions for managing intellectual property across the entire Mazda Group.
