Procedures of DAS with the JPO as the Office of First Filing

When an application claiming priority is filed with an overseas IP office, it is possible to omit the submission of paper priority documents to the foreign IP office by requesting it to obtain electronic data on priority documents of the JPO through WIPO Digital Access Service (hereinafter referred to as the “DAS”).

Table of Contents

• 1. Priority Documents Provided by the JPO to WIPO DAS
• 2. Acquisition of Access Code for Use of DAS
  • (1) Obtaining Access Code through Filing Receipt or Notification of Application Number
  • (2) Request for Issuance of Access Code (For Patent applications and Utility Model applications only)
  • Access code reference method using Internet application software
• 3. Procedures Taken at the Office or Organization of Second Filing

1. Priority Documents Provided by the JPO to WIPO DAS

The following priority documents can be provided by the JPO through the DAS;

Priority documents concerning Patent Applications, Utility Model Applications and Industrial Design Applications filed with the JPO

• On January 1, 2020, the JPO starts Electronic Priority Document Exchange of Industrial Design Applications through the DAS.
• On April 1, 2025, the JPO, as a depositing office, starts to deposit certified copies of PCT international applications filed electronically to the JPO as the receiving Office (hereinafter referred to as the “RO/JP”) as priority documents via DAS.

Priority Documents Submitted to the JPO (Priority documents submitted to the JPO for Patent Applications or Utility Model Applications filed with the JPO)

• Priority documents submitted to the JPO for Industrial Design Applications are excluded.
• Priority documents submitted for PCT international applications filed with the RO/JP(including those that have entered the national phase) are excluded.

* Please note that trademark applications are excluded.

Return to Table of Contents

2. Acquisition of Access Code for Use of DAS

To use WIPO DAS, the following procedures are required at the JPO.

Return to Table of Contents

(1) Obtaining Access Code through Filing Receipt or Notification of Application Number

Return to Table of Contents

(2) Request for Issuance of Access Code (For Patent applications and Utility Model applications only)

If the access code cannot be obtained through (1), above, it is obtainable by submitting a “Request for Issuance of Access Code to WIPO” to the JPO. Both through online and in paper form is acceptable. There is no need to pay the fee for the procedure and the fee for computerization. Also, this request cannot be used for industrial design applications.

• Request for Issuance of Access Code to WIPO (PDF: 131KB)

After receiving a Request for Issuance of Access Code, the JPO sends a Notification of Access Code to the requester of an access code. It normally takes around one week after the request form is submitted online. If it is submitted on paper, it needs an additional period (about one month) to digitize the Request for Issuance of Access Code, and then it is recommended to take the procedure with a sufficient time.

• Sample of a notification of access code (PDF: 72KB)

Return to Table of Contents

Access code reference method using Internet application software

From January 6, 2020, using the Internet application software, you can refer the access codes of patent applications, utility model applications, and industrial design applications granted by the JPO.

Open the 「アクセスコード照会」(“Access Code Reference”) window from the 「補助」 (“Assistance”) tab of the Internet application software, enter the application number, and press 「実行」 (“Execute”). Reference is made in units of one item, and the reference result is added to the top row.

In cases where the access code is unknown, you can refer with this function if you have an application number.

• a. The person authorized to refer is the applicant and its agent.
• b. Reference is in units of application numbers. The range of application numbers that can be referred is as follows.

  IP Types	Referable Application Numbers (Year)
  Patents	(Since 2016)　特願2016-000001～
  Utility Models	(Since 2016)　実願2016-000001～
  Industrial Designs	(Since 2020)　意願2020-000001～

Below, access codes are displayed in the abstract view / list view of filing receipts and accepted folders.

• Patent applications and utility model applications filed online on or after March 20, 2016
• Industrial design applications filed online on or after January 1, 2020

Return to Table of Contents

3. Procedures Taken at the Office or the Organization of Second Filing

Please request the Office or the Organization of Second Filing to obtain a priority document(s) from the JPO through the DAS.

There are no other procedures that you need to take at the JPO except for acquiring an access code. Afterwards, you need to provide the Office of Second Filing with the access code issued by the JPO and show your intention to use the electronic service of priority document exchange.

Please contact the foreign IP offices/organizations directly for specific procedures including how to provide access codes to those offices/organizations which are the offices/organizations of second filing.

Return to Table of Contents

[Last updated 11 March 2025]

Contact

Electronic Priority Document Exchange Information Technology Policy Planning Office TEL: +81 3 3581 1101 Ext. 2505   Formality Check Administrative Affairs Section, Formality Examination Division, Trademark and Customer relations Department, Japan Patent Office TEL: +81 3 3581 1101 Ext. 2618   Access code reference method by Internet application software Electronic application software support center TEL: +81 3 5744 8534 (Tokyo) TEL: +81 6 6946 5070 (Osaka)   Patent Administration Service Office in Application Division under Trademark and Customer Relations Department, Japan Patent Office TEL: +81 3 3581 1101 Ext. 2508   Lost access code for design registration application Design Division in Patent and Design Examination Department (Physics, Optics, Social Infrastructure and Design), Japan Patent Office TEL: +81 3 3581 1101 Ext. 2905