How to Send Demands to the Japan Patent Office in Its Capacity as an International Preliminary Examination Authority (IPEA/JP)

1. The JPO acts as a competent International Preliminary Examination Authority for any international applications under the PCT, which meet the following conditions:

• (a) The international search was carried out by ISA/JP; and
• (b) The applicant of the international application submits a demand (via form PCT/IPEA/401) to the JPO as the competent IPEA (IPEA/JP) within the deadline stipulated under PCT Rule 54bis.

2. Demands Are to Be Sent via Form PCT/IPEA/401 to the IPEA/JP

The demand shall be in the language of the international application or, if a translation of the international application was required, the demand shall be in the language of the translation.

• (a) The applicant is to send the demand (via form PCT/IPEA/401) to the IPEA/JP directly by either registered mail or via courier service to the JPO’s mailing address indicated in paragraph (c) below. The JPO cannot accept any demands via e-mail or facsimile (FAX).
  Please note that the demand must reach the JPO within the deadline stipulated under PCT rule 54bis.
  In case the applicant ends up submitting the demand right before the specified deadline, the JPO highly suggests that the applicant submit the demand directly to the International Bureau (IB) instead, under PCT rule 59.3 (b) and (c).This is because the IB accepts demands via ePCT online or FAX. (Click here for the FAX number : link to the external site.)
• (b) If the applicant requests the IPEA/JP to take into account any amendments made to the international application, the applicant is required to indicate such in the demand submitted to the IPEA/JP. In addition, the applicant is to submit a copy of the amendments along with the Demand according to PCT Article 19 and/or submit the amendments to the international application under PCT Article 34 (PCT Rule 53.9).
• (c) The JPO’s mailing address is below.
  Office for International Applications under the PCT (IPEA/JP: Demand)
  Application Division
  Japan Patent Office
  3-4-3, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8915, Japan

3. Payment of the fees to the IPEA/JP

Please refer to "How to Pay Fees to ISA/JP or IPEA/JP from Outside Japan" on the JPO’s website.

4. Contact Us

If you have any questions about how to send a demand, please e-mail us at PA1A31@jpo.go.jp.

[Last updated 21 February 2017]

Contact

Office for International Applications under the PCT Japan Patent Office Address: 3-4-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8915, Japan E-mail：PA1A31@jpo.go.jp Fax: +81-3-3501-0659