1. What is a “Multi-Multi Claim”? “Multi-multi claim” means “any dependent claim that refers to more than one other claim in the alternative (‘multiple dependent claim’) which depends from any other multiple dependent claim”.[1] A multi-multi claim hence exponentially increases…
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The US-JP Collaborative Search Pilot Program (CSP), started in 2015, enables patent applicants for the United States and Japan to seek synchronized and speedier search and office action results. The USPTO and JPO recently announced their continuation of the program…
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In 2021, the Japanese Diet (parliament) passed various amendments to intellectual property law. Two major changes were made, and this month, Prime Minister Kishida’s Cabinet issued executive ordinances to implement the amendments. Here is a summary of the two major…
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Japan has allowed such “multi-multi claims” (described as “any dependent claim that refers to more than one other claim in the alternative (“multiple dependent claim”) which depends from any other multiple dependent claim”).[1] However, beware that if you were intending…
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The Japan Patent Office published its annual Status Report in April. Here are a few of the things we noted. Patent Prosecution in Japan -Steady decline in domestic and international patent filings (under 345,000 in 2010 and nearly 308,000 in…
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* Original: March 20, 2020. Update: April 7, 2020. Interviews with examiners are a vital tool during patent prosecution in Japan–able to make the difference between moving toward allowance and receiving a rejection. They have not always, however, been easily…
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Applicants may want to file an Amendment to a Japanese patent application for a variety of reasons. However, it is important to be aware of the deadline when an amendment has to reach the Japan Patent Office (JPO). By when…
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Missed the first deadline for an Office Action response? Since the Revision to Japanese Patent Law effective from April 2016, the JPO has modified rules for extending the deadline for responding to Pre-Appeal Office Actions*, both minor and major. Of…
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The Japan Patent Office’s (JPO) new guidelines for filing an appeal against an examiner’s “Notice of Final Refusal” will go into effect April 1, 2009. The JPO is responding to a long-standing complaint among Japanese applicants who’ve been frustrated by…
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