*Note: A newer article published in February 2017, summarizing the content below, is available here. Requirements Then and Now: Patent applications have to be filed before a prior art disclosure. But what if the disclosure is the inventor’s own? Can…
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* You can read more recent articles and our strengths in reinstatement after a missed deadline at our Reinstatement portal page. “If I missed the 30-month deadline for filing a PCT Japan National Phase application, can I still reinstate it?”…
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Under the Law for Strengthening of Industrial and Technological Competitiveness, the JPO has implemented measures to reduce fees for small businesses, venture companies, and other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) if they satisfy certain requirements. The discounts apply…
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The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced their plans for reforming Intellectual Property related laws of Patent, Trademark, Industrial Design, as part of Japan’s revitalization Strategy put forth by the Abe administration….
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The Licensing Executive Society’s (LES) Annual Meeting will take place at the Philadelphia Downtown Mariott on September 22-24. Keisen’s licensing and commercialization experts, Konomi Takeshita (Keisen Associate US Patent Attorney, CLP) and Clara Yamagishi (CLP) will be in attendance. If…
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As of April 22, you can find us at our new address: Waterras Annex Suite 1205 2-105 Kanda-Awajicho Chiyodaku, Tokyo 101-0063 JAPAN Phone: +81-3-5298-6552 FAX: +81-3-5294-3008 Please come visit us if you’re in the area! The nearest subway station is…
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Nintendo was granted a patent by the US Patent Office on December 27, 2012, for its new Panorama View feature, which allows the player on Wii U to move the GamePad screen around to display a 360-degree view beyond what…
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In Japan, all benrishi (patent attorneys) qualify to render prosecutorial, filing and expert opinion roles regarding IP matters. In terms of litigations, however, their adversarial role is limited to appeals against the Japan Patent Office’s decision. For the benrishi to…
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The results of the Japanese IP Infringement Litigator Examination was announced on December 18, 2012 and revealed that only 136 applicants passed the examination, down by approximately 25% from the previous year. Until the admissions process for future litigators becomes less regulated, it is important to keep in mind the two types of patent attorneys in existence in Japan and make an informed choice in finding representation that is right for you.
The World Intellectual Property Organization released the data on global patent activities trends for 2011 and announced that, despite the “uncertainty and fragility” of the global economy, patent filings grew by close to 8% last year. The big announcement, however,…
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