JPO Conducted JPO/IPR Training Course on Design Substantive Examination and Accession to the Hague Agreement

JPO conducted the "JPO/IPR Training Course on Design Substantive Examination and Accession to the Hague Agreement" in person from January 26 to February 2, 2023. 23 participants from 12 countries and 1 organization participated in the course. This course was for design examiners from IP Offices of various countries, especially those which have not yet joined the Hague Agreement.

The purpose of this course was to promote accession to the Hague Agreement, to introduce the substantive design examination system, and to improve the quality of examinations. During the course, JPO examiners shared their experiences of Japan's accession to the Hague Agreement, and the examiners gave lectures on examination practices, as well as on examination standards and the operation of examinations.

The trainees expressed strong interest in Japan's Hague Convention accession process. For example, one trainee commented that they had "gained extensive knowledge, including IT issues and the procedures regarding Hague Convention accession. Particularly, the detailed information on registration application through e-Hague and the Designated Countries procedures were very beneficial. We intend to include the information in the road map of our future operations and the Hague Convention accession efforts".

In addition, JPO's detailed design examination system (including standards and rules), and its efficient formality/substantive examination, were evaluated highly by the trainees. Comments included the following:

"The JPO's classification method is very systematic, enhancing the completeness of formality/substantive examination. We are making organizational efforts to introduce this into our IP system."

"Our IP system allows only one design per registration. JPO's procedure on the division of registration applications that takes into account the Hague Convention's international design application rules was very interesting. We need to establish a new rule to respond to this."

Completion ceremony

[Last updated 22 December 2023]

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Developing Country Cooperation Section International Cooperation Division Japan Patent Office E-mail：PA0870@jpo.go.jp