JPO-EPO Examiner Exchange Program Held

September 29, 2023

On September 11 to 15, 2023, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) held an *Examiner Exchange Program with the European Patent Office (EPO).

The JPO has conducted Examiner Exchange Programs with the EPO for more than 20 years. From 2020 to last year, the programs were online, but this year, we had an in-person program for the first time in four years by sending our examiners to the EPO’s office in The Hague.

Four JPO examiners and seven EPO examiners participated in the program, and deepened understanding of each Office’s examination practices by exchanging information on prior art search methods and systems and operation of examination standards in the two technical fields of measurement and organic chemistry.

The JPO will continue to cooperate on patent examination with the IP Offices of other countries.

*The Examiner Exchange Program is designed to foster a relationship of trust and deepen mutual understanding between the examiners of the JPO and an overseas IP Office and to promote mutual use of prior art search results and examination results through discussions on each other's prior art search methods and examination practices.

 

Participants from the two Offices

Discussion (1)

Discussion (2)

[Last updated 29 September 2023]