Quality Management Manual for Patent Examination

The JPO has released the third edition of “Quality Management Manual for Patent Examination” (the “Quality Manual”).

This Quality Manual is designed to document the quality management system for patent examination that consists of quality management and its implementation system in line with the fundamental principles stipulated by the Quality Policy released in April 2014.

The JPO published the first edition in August 2014, and the contents are updated when the JPO implements new initiative related to the quality management of patent examination.

Following a review of its quality management system to deal with changes in the social environment in the COVID-19 pandemic and the DX era, the JPO has revised the Quality Manual.

The JPO remains dedicated to implementing patent examination accurately and to achieve patent examination that is the fastest and utmost quality in the world in accordance with the quality management based on the Quality Policy and the Quality Manual.

Contents of the Quality Manual

1. Outline of Quality Management System (QMS)
2. Measures being implemented in the examination departments
3. Transacting with external organizations and persons
4. International measures on examination quality

• Quality Management Manual for Patent Examination^*（PDF:1,832KB）
  • Main Points of Revisions in the “Quality Management Manual for Patent Examination”（PDF:65KB）

^* When any ambiguity of interpretation is found in this translation, the Japanese text shall prevail.

This Quality Manual is updated when the JPO implements new initiative related to the quality management of patent examination.

[Last updated 1 July 2022]

Contact

Quality Management Office Administrative Affairs Division Patent and Design Examination Department Japan Patent Office TEL：+81-3-3581-1101 (ex. 3121) E-mail:PA2A30@jpo.go.jp