* January 2018 update: This patent has been revoked as of late 2017. Pepper Food Service (Tokyo), owner of the growing “Ikinari! Steak” franchise, obtained a patent (the link is to the patent owner’s Japanese press release) for its “System…
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Representatives from Keisen Associates will host a booth at the Licensing Executives Society U.S.A. and Canada, Inc. (LES) Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC, October 23-26, 2016. This is an excellent opportunity to network and collaborate. We would be delighted to…
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As of August 1, 2016, petitioners have filed over 1,000 post-grant opposition cases since April 1, 2015 under the 2014 amendment of Japan’s Patent Act. Whereas in the first half-year since April 2015 a third of the oppositions were against…
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On June 16th, 2016, the successor of the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) Commissioner Ito has been announced to be Commissioner Yoshinori Komiya. As a result, Commissioner Ito is retiring from a successful career serving in Japanese government services. Commissioner Ito…
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Step 1: Enter the number of days left before the 30-month deadline to enter into the Japanese national phase*. In order to calculate precise cost for your specific case, please enter the number of days left before the 30-month deadline…
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The JPO has adopted an individual fee consisting of two parts. The application will be cancelled if the second part of the individual fee is not paid within the period indicated in the NOTIFICATION OF SECOND PART OF INDIVIDUAL FEE.
“Frank Miura,” a parody brand trademark that was overturned, was reinstated after its owner challenged the JPO’s invalidation of it. “Frank Miura” parodies the expensive Swiss watch brand “Franck Muller,” which sounds very similar when pronounced in Japanese. The watches…
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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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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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