Trends in Japan Between April 1, 2015 and March 8, 2016, 608 petitions for the re-introduced Post Grant Review (PGR / igi moushitate) system, which may be filed up to six months from date of issue of the patent, have…
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Patent fees paid to the JPO on or after April 1, 2016 are set according to new fee rules. The fees are generally cheaper under the new rules. You can see the fee changes here. * The information provided on…
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The examinations that start on or after April 1, 2016 regarding food use patent applications and patent term extensions will follow the JPO’s updated Examination Guidelines and Handbook ,for patent and utility model examinations. Furthermore, the JPO will examine applications…
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The Japanese Examination Guidelines for trademarks has been updated again (rev. 12th ed.). This new edition’s standards will go into effect from April 1, 2016. The revisions clarify various types of allowable trademarks, as well as updated information based on…
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JPO Commissioner Hitoshi Ito has given a New Years message for 2016, commenting on the JPO’s recent progress in seeking to develop “the World’s Fastest and Highest Quality Examination System.” See the English translation of the message here. Last year,…
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Since April 1, 2015, the JPO has been accepting non-traditional trademark applications. Such applications are categorized as Sounds, Motions, Positions, Holograms, or Colors. Some of the first applications have been approved for registration as of October 27, 2015. If you…
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As of October 21, 2015, petitioners have filed 119 post-grant Opposition cases, which have been possible from April 1, 2015 under the 2014 amendment of Japan’s Patent Act. Of the Oppositions filed, 41 (34%) were filed against patents classified in…
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The JPO has published the completely updated “Examination Guidelines for Patents and Utility Models” and “Examination Handbook for Patents and Utility Models” on September 16, 2015. (The “Guidelines” take effect only for examinations conducted from October 1, 2015.) An important…
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* Changes to the Patent Act of Japan, going into effect from April 1, 2023, make this article outdated for patent deadlines on or after that date. Please see our news article here for more information. Is it possible to…
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Starting from August 1, 2015, a pilot program is available to applicants who wish to benefit from streamlined sharing of search results between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office, for approved U.S. and Japanese…
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