JPO-DPMA Examiner Exchange Program Held

July 4, 2024

On June 10 to 14, 2024, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) held an *Examiner Exchange Program with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). The JPO has continued Examiner Exchange Programs with the DPMA since 2000. This year, we conducted an in-person program by inviting DPMA examiners to the JPO.

In the program, five JPO examiners and two DPMA examiners deepened understanding of each Office’s examination practices by discussing cross-filed patent applications in the fields of agricultural and civil engineering (construction) and medical devices (surgical and therapeutic devices) and by exchanging information on prior art search methods and systems and operation of examination standards.

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

[Last updated 4 July 2024]