Collective Examinations for IP Portfolio Supporting Business Strategy

• The JPO assists you to smoothly expand your business through collective examinations.
• A team of JPO examiners simultaneously conducts examinations on a group of various applications of your inventions, designs and trademarks related to an entire project.
• Through close communication with examiners, examinations will be conducted based on an understanding of the outline of your business project and the positioning of inventions.

• Collective Examinations for IP Portfolio Supporting Business Strategy

Communication with Patent Examiners in English

• You can request interview with patent examiners at any stage of examination.
• Your agent in Japan needs to participate in the interview (online participation is acceptable).
• There are no restriction on location because of online interview.

• Interview Examination (On-site Interview, Online Interview)

Guidebook for Overseas Users on Design System in Japan

• The JPO released “Your Key to Success: for Obtaining a Design Right in Japan,”a guidebook which introduces the features of Japanese design system and points to consider when filing a design application in Japan, as well as recent amendments to laws and examination guidelines, in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.
• The guidebook focuses on points that are often mistaken by overseas users. It provides explanations with a variety of actual cases of registered designs.
• We highly recommend the guidebook to overseas users who feel it is difficult to obtain a design right in Japan. It will be “your key to success”!

• Your Key to Success: for Obtaining a Design Right in Japan（PDF：1,279KB）

How to register a trademark in Japan

• The JPO released an English-language pamphlet for overseas users aiming to register a trademark in Japan.
• The pamphlet summarizes the key points of the Japanese trademark system, along with points to keep in mind when filing an application with the JPO.

• How to register a trademark in Japan（PDF：1,193KB）

Trial and Appeal Practitioner Study Group Report

• JPO has conducted studies on trial and appeal decisions considered important in practice, with participation from practitioners both inside and outside the JPO, and disseminated the outcomes widely in Japan and abroad.
• The report feeds the analytical results back into future trial and appeal practices.
• The report fosters a shared understanding between system users and those engaged in trial and appeal practices.

• Trial and Appeal Practitioner Study Group Report

SEP (Standard Essential Patents)

• The JPO created "Guide to Licensing Negotiations Involving Standard Essential Patents.“ The Guide aims to enhance transparency and predictability, facilitate negotiations between rights holders and implementers (patent users), and help prevent or quickly resolve disputes concerning the SEPs.
• In response to the growing number of judicial precedents involving SEPs around the world, the JPO revised the Guide in July 2022.
• Hantei (advisory opinion) system can also be used for essentiality checks.

• Standard Essential Patents Portal Site

Hantei (Advisory Opinion) System

• The JPO renders an official advisory opinion (Hantei) on whether the object product, process, etc. falls or does not fall within the technical scope of the patented invention three months at the earliest from a Hantei request. Hantei system can be used not only for patents, but also for utility models, designs and trademarks.

• Hantei (Advisory Opinion)

Opinion Exchange Meeting

• In order to provide information on the IP rights system and the JPO measures, as well as to directly capture the user's voice, we have been conducting opinion exchange meetings at the practitioner level with individual companies and industry groups.
• The JPO is also now inviting companies and other organizations that wish to exchange opinions with us, aiming to let more users become familiar with the JPO and the IP rights system. The JPO will respond to your various questions, suggestions, and concerns as clearly as possible, taking advantage of the expertise of JPO staff.

• Opinion Exchange Meeting

PR Materials for Overseas Users

• The JPO publishes PR materials for overseas users on its website.
• The materials contain comprehensive information on examination systems in Japan and schemes available for the users.

• PR Materials for Overseas Users (PDF : 5,241KB)

The JPO Quick Reads

• The JPO Quick Reads provides updates on JPO’s initiatives and other information every Monday
• It is one of the best media to find out about the recent developments in the JPO.

• The JPO Quick Reads

File patents, expand your business in Japan

• The speedy and high-quality patent examination by the JPO makes it possible to obtain stable rights with a high degree of predictability, increasing the value of your company's technology.
• Japan has one of the largest markets in Asia and a high awareness of intellectual property (IP) protection, making it a good base for expansion into Asia.
• Having many companies with diverse and advanced technologies, Japan also offers an excellent manufacturing base where you can find partners for developing practical applications of your company’s basic technologies.

• Successful cases by obtaining patents in Japan

Surveys of Patent Filing Trends in AI-Related Inventions and Business-Related Inventions

• The JPO has conducted surveys to clarify the current state of AI-related patent filings both in Japan and abroad, and has published the survey results.
• In addition, the JPO has published the results of similar surveys on business-related inventions.

• Recent Trends in AI-related Inventions
• Recent Trends in Business-related Inventionse

Patent Examination for AI/IoT Related Technologies

• The JPO, for the first time in the world, composed and published patent examination case examples on AI and IoT-related inventions. Currently, more than 40 hypothetical patent examination case examples on AI and IoT-related inventions have been published. In the patent examination case examples, the key points for determining Inventive Step, Description Requirement and Eligibility for Patent have been indicated.
• The JPO inaugurated a Team for Supporting AI Examinations, an internal body in which the respective examination divisions collaborate beyond their responsible technical fields. The team accumulates and shares knowledge on the latest AI-related technologies and case examples of examination results. On October 1, 2023, the JPO increased the number of experts on AI examination from 13 to 39.

• Patent Examination Case Examples pertinent to AI-related technologies
• System for the Team Supporting AI Examinations to be Enhanced to Achieve Efficient and Highest-Quality Examinations of AI-Related Inventions （External link）

Manga Patent Examination Guidelines in English
– AI/IoT fields –

• The JPO released the world‘s first manga-based patent examination guidelines, aiming at bringing our examination practice closer to the people.
• The manga explains not only the characteristic determination aspects of AI and IoT-related technologies, but also the basic concepts regarding patent examinations that are common to all technical fields.

• Manga Patent Examination Guidelines

GXTI(Green Transformation Technologies Inventory)

• In June 2022, we released the Green Transformation Technologies Inventory (GXTI), which gives a bird’s-eye view of technologies related to Green Transformation (GX) and provides the patent search formulae for analyzing patent trends that correspond to individual technology categories.
• Patent information analysis using the GXTI enables the following:
  • ◆ Companies can illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of their GX-related technologies and formulate their R&D strategy accordingly.
  • ◆ Companies can explain to investors the superiority of their R&D capabilities regarding GX-related technologies.
  • ◆ Governments can foster GX initiatives on an evidence-driven basis.
• The JPO conducted a survey using the GXTI to analyze trends in patent filings based on the category of GXTI. The final report was published in May 2023, and is available on the JPO website in English.

• Green Transformation Technologies Inventory
• Patent Information Analysis Based on GXTI

Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)

• Under the PPH framework, an application determined to be patentable by the office of earlier examination is allowed to undergo accelerated examination at the office of later examination.
• The JPO has the largest PPH network in the world. Selecting the JPO as the office of earlier examination maximizes the options for later examination. By combining JPO’s PPH network and its speedy examination under accelerated examination system, applicants can expect even earlier acquisition of rights with other IP offices.
• A new PPH initiative has been launched with the USPTO in January 2022.

• Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
• PPH Portal
• Patent Prosecution Highway between the JPO and the USPTO

JPO as International Search Authority

• The JPO establishes search and examination results in English in respect of PCT international applications. Applicants who file their PCT applications with, for example, the USPTO or ASEAN IP offices, can choose the JPO as ISA/ IPEA. As search and examination are conducted in English, Japanese translation is not necessary.
• Without the burden of translation, your global acquisition of rights starts here with the JPO by using the JPO’s WO/ISA, WO/IPEA or IPER to file PCT-PPH applications.

• JPO Further Increases Its Competence to Act in the Capacity as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for PCT International Applications
• PPH Portal