Patent Others Q&A

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APPLICATION
EXAMINATION
PATENT RIGHTS

APPLICATION

QRepresenting Competitors: Are there any restrictions placed on the Japanese patent attorney with respect to simultaneously representing competitors in overlapping areas of technology?
If not, do the patent attorneys have an obligation to notify their foreign clients of such conflicts of interest?

A
Yes, there is a restriction.
Patent attorney – The Patent Attorneys Law Art. 31 provides that a case should not be accepted which may have a conflict of interest with another case being represented. However, simultaneous representation is allowed if the parties concerned give consent to the patent attorney.
The Patent Attorneys Law Art.31 applies equally to foreign clients, who should be notified and whose consent is required when a patent attorney wants to represent simultaneously competitors in overlapping areas of technology.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QPro Se (Self-representation) Application: Does the Japan Patent Office (JPO) permit pro se applications? That is, is it permitted for an inventor to file and prosecute their own patent application without the assistance of a patent attorney?

A
The JPO permits so-called pro se (self-representation) applications as long as the applicant has their domicile or residence in Japan irrespective of their nationality. Otherwise, it is not permitted for an inventor to file and prosecute their application without the assistance of a Patent Administrator [the Patent Law Art.8(1)]. Patent attorneys and attorneys at law can be Patent Administrators. Any person, including non-Japanese, who has their domicile or residence in Japan and is an applicant’s representative with respect to the applicant’s patent, can be a Patent Administrator. The Patent Administrator shall represent the principal in all procedures and in a suit instituted against measures taken by an administrative agency in accordance with the Patent Law or an order or ordinance thereunder [the Patent Law Art.8(2)]. However, the “resident abroad” – i.e. the applicant – can limit the scope of powers of attorney.
As an exception, if the applicant has a Patent administrator, the applicant (or in case of a legal entity, its representative) is able to proceed before the JPO during their stay in Japan without the assistance of a Patent administrator (Art.1 of the Enforcement Ordinance under the Patent Law).
Another exception is admitted when a PCT application filed in the U.S. or other foreign countries designating Japan enters into the Japanese national phase (the Patent Law Art.184-11 applies). In this case, the resident abroad is allowed to proceed before the JPO until the expiration of the standard time for national processing (i.e., until the expiration of 30 months from the priority date for filing a Japanese-language translation or until the day on which a request for examination is filed) on condition that the resident appoints a Patent Administrator within 3 months after the standard time for national processing.
[Updated in January 2024]

QFiling Application in Foreign Language: Can we file a patent application in a foreign language?

A
Yes. You can file a patent application written in any foreign language to secure a filing date.
You must file a Japanese translation of the foreign-language application within one year and four months from the priority date. Otherwise, the application is deemed to be withdrawn.
The examination is conducted in the Japanese language.
You can amend the specification, claims, and drawings within the disclosure of the original foreign language text. However, you cannot amend the foreign language text in any way.
If new matter is introduced into the Japanese translation beyond the disclosure of the original foreign language text, it will cause rejection of the application and invalidation of the patent.
[Updated in January 2024]

QFormat for the Specification: What format for the specification should be used to file a patent application in Japan?

A
The Japan Patent Office accepts the (trilateral) Common Application Format (CAF) from January 1, 2009. Therefore, required format in Japan is same as in USPTO and EPO, and it will be accepted by the Japan Patent Office without the need for amendments related to formalities.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QEssential Description in “Summary of Invention”: Are there legal requirements for the description in “Summery of Invention”? If yes, what should be written down?

A
Yes, Art.24-2 of Regulation under the Patent Law requires to state the features which are necessary for a person skilled in the art to recognize the technical significance of the invention, including the problems to be solved by the invention, technical means used for solving the problems and the others. Therefore, at least the description of a technical problem and a solution to the problem are necessary. The others, such as an advantageous effect of the invention, are not necessary unless they are essential for the skilled person to recognize the technical significance.
[Updated in January 2024]

QPlural Advantages: If an invention shows plural advantages, must a claim include all the features corresponding to each advantage? Or can we separate the features into a plurality of independent claims?

A
You can separate the features into a plurality of independent claims to obtain broader scope of protection. Note that the independent claims must meet the requirements of the unity of invention (Art.37) and be supported by the specification (Art.36(6)(i)).
[Updated in January 2024]

QClaim Format: Is one particular claim format, for example, European two-part form, Jepson, etc., affect a scope of protection in later stage, such as litigation? If yes, what format is advantageous/disadvantageous?

A
No, claim format should not affect a scope of protection.
In some countries, a preamble in a two part form claim or a Jepson type claim is interpreted as a prior art. In Japan, the Patent Examination Guideline states that every technical features in a claim, including a preamble and a body, is treated equally and a scope of protection is interpreted from whole written technical features in a claim. Therefore, there is no particular claim format which is advantageous/disadvantageous.
[Updated in January 2024]

QMultiple Dependency: Can a dependent claim depend on other multiple dependent claim?

A
No. Effective from April 1, 2022, any Multi-Multi claim has no longer be allowed in any patent application (and utility-model application) and will be rejected under Article 36(6)(iv).
[Updated in January 2024]

QDependent Claims: Will dependent claims be automatically determined to be invalid in a trial for invalidation if the independent claim is determined to be invalid?

A
No. A trial for invalidation should be demanded for each claim regardless of whether the claim is independent or dependent, and dependent claims can be maintained if they do not have any reasons for invalidation themselves, even if the independent claim is determined to be invalid. So, it is recommendable to draft dependent claims if these dependent claims have any additional significant features.
[Updated in January 2024]

QIndependent Claims: Is there any restriction on the number of independent claims, such as one independent claim per one category?

A
No. An application can include any number of independent claims per one category. Note that all the claims must fulfill a requirement of unity of invention.
[Updated in January 2024]

QClaim Categories: Show allowed claim categories in Japan.

A
There are two categories – a product and a process. The process is further divided into two – simple and manufacturing processes.
Note that a device, an apparatus, a system, or a program is categorized as a product. A method or use is classified as a process.
[Updated in January 2024]

QConversion to Utility Model Application: Is it possible to file a divisional application as a utility model application from a patent application?

A
Yes. A divisional application filed out of a patent application can be a utility model application by conversion of application. The conversion to a utility model, however, is only possible within 9 years and 6 months from the filing date of the patent application.
[Updated in January 2024]

QHow Internal Priority is Claimed: Is it possible to file a Japanese application (patent or utility model) which claims the priority based on an earlier filed Japanese application (patent or utility model) within the priority year (so-called internal priority period) allowing inclusion of earlier related invention made within the priority year?

A
Yes, it is possible.
The internal priority system provides an applicant of a Japanese application with the same benefits as those of Paris Convention applications.
A later-filed application claiming an internal priority based on an earlier-filed application can protect a fundamental invention and its improvements or peripheral inventions. In this case, the invention of the earlier Japanese application is combined with the later-filed application as a single application, and the earlier-filed application is deemed withdrawn after a lapse of 1 year and three months (15 months) from the priority date (the filing date of the earlier filed application).
The internal priority system provides an applicant of a Japanese application with the same benefit as enjoyed by those of Paris Convention applications.
A later filed application claiming an internal priority based on an earlier filed application can protect a fundamental invention as well as its improvements or peripheral inventions. In this case, the invention of the earlier Japanese application is combined with the later filed application as a single application and the earlier filed application is deemed withdrawn after a lapse of 1 year and 3 months (15 months) from the priority date (the filing date of the earlier filed application).
[Updated in January 2024]

QNationalizing a PCT Application

When can a national phase application be filed in Japan?
A PCT application was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Please explain the procedure involved in commencing the national phase in Japan.

A national phase application must be filed within 30 months from the priority date, regardless of the filing of a demand under Chapter II of PCT.
It is required to file a petition for commencing a national phase in Japan and a 15
Japanese translation of each specification, claim, abstract, and, if any, English legends are contained in drawings, those drawings of the international (PCT) application as initially filed.
The request for a national phase application must be filed within 30 months from the priority date. Still, you can file the translation within two months from the filing date of the request when the request is filed within two months before the termination date.
The Japanese translation of the Amendment filed and entered under Art.19 and Art.34 of the PCT can also be filed, but this is not mandatory. Suppose the applicant wishes the national phase application to be examined with the amended claims. In that case, submitting the Japanese translation of the Amendments under Art.19 or 34 of the PCT should be necessary.
However, please note that the introduction of a new matter is prohibited.
Further, when the applicant amends under Art.19 of the PCT, the applicant can file a translation of the amended claims instead of a translation of claims originally filed in the international (PCT) application.
It is recommended to submit the Amendment when a request for examination is filed after having carefully reviewed it concerning whether or not the amended matter would be considered introducing a new matter under our patent practice. Doing this can save unnecessary costs for translating the Amendment when filing the national phase application in Japan. In addition, you can consider any change in technical importance or any new prior art found about the claimed invention up to the time when a request for examination is filed, which situation may affect your claim in the Japanese application.
The original applicant of the national phase application in Japan must be the inventor(s) or, if the invention was assigned, the assignee(s) named in the petition. We recommend that when you instruct your Japanese associate to file a national phase application in Japan, you send a copy of the request for the international application and documents to be translated together with your instruction.
[Updated in January 2024]

QOutlines of Utility Model System in Japan: Explain outlines of the utility model system in Japan.

A
(1) Protection Target

Protection targets of the Utility Model Law are limited to “a device,” which must be technical ideas relating to an article’s shape, structure, or combination, including articles and immovable properties, such as buildings, bridges, and plants. On the other hand, materials themselves (e.g., medicines, chemical compounds, glasses, alloys, etc.) and methods are not protection targets.

(2) Novelty

Similar to the patent system, the Utility Model Law establishes three cases for novelty-breaking: publicly known, publicly worked, and publication in Japan or other countries before the filing date of an application. Note that the novelty-breaking instances are not limited to domestic.

(3) Inventive Step

While the patent system requires an invention not to be easily obtained by a person skilled in the art (Art.29(2) of the Patent Law), the utility model system requires a device not to be very easily obtained by a person skilled in the art (Art.3(2) of the Utility Model Law). The inventive step of the invention is higher than that of the device. However, the inventive steps of the patent system and the utility model system are treated as equal in a technical opinion (see (9) below) issued by the JPO; there is substantially no difference between them.

(4) Procedures for application

All the utility model applications should be accompanied by drawings (Art.5(2) of the Utility Model Law) because an object of protection is limited to the device of an article. Further, the annual fee for each year from the first to the third year shall be paid in a lump sum simultaneously with the filing of the utility model application.

(5) Fees

Fees for a utility model application and registration are lower than fees for a patent application and registration.

(6) Examination

A utility model right is granted only after examining formal and basic requirements except for substantive requirements (e.g., novelty and inventive steps, etc.), so the Utility Model Law adopts a non-substantive examination system. Therefore, the application will be registered if a utility model application satisfies the formal and basic requirements. However, if it does not meet the substantive registration requirements, it shall be disputed in an appeal for invalidation (Art.37 of the Utility Model Law). It is noted that a utility model application will be registerable in about four months from the filing date, while a patent application will be registerable in about 15 months from the date of request for examination (as of 2015).

(7) Amendment and Correction

The applicant may file amendments only for one month from the filing date or a period specified by the Commissioner(Art.2-2).
Further, the owner of a utility model right shall be entitled to one opportunity to correct the description, claim(s) for utility model registration or drawing(s) attached to the request, excluding the prescribed cases (Art.14-2(1) of the Utility Model Law).
However, only where correction has as its objective the cancellation of claim(s), the owner of a utility model right may correct the description, claim(s) for utility model registration or drawing(s) without limitation for the time or number of times, excluding after the notification of the conclusion of trial examination (Art.14-2(7) of the Utility Model Law).

(8) Term of right

The term of the utility model right is ten years from the filing date of the application (Art.15 of the Utility Model Law), while the term of patent right is 20 years from the filing date (Art.67 of the Patent Law).

(9) Exercise of right

A utility model right is the same as a patent right in the exercise of right. Still, it is different from the patent right in that the utility model right may be exercised only after giving a warning in the form of a report of a technical opinion as to the registrability of the utility model to avoid abuse of the right (Art.29-2 of the Utility Model Law).
However, where the owner of a utility model right has exercised their utility model right or given a warning to an infringer, and a trial decision that the utility model registration is to be invalidated has become conclusive, such owner shall be liable to indemnify any other party concerning any damage caused to that party by the exercise of that right or by the giving of the warning (Art.29-3(1) of the Utility Model Law). Therefore, the technical opinion is a nonbinding comment of the Japan Patent Office.
Any person may request a technical opinion from the Commissioner of the JPO (Art.12 of the Utility Model Law). The request may be made even after the expiration of the utility model right, except when the registration has been invalidated in a utility model invalidation trial. It takes about six months from the date of request to get the technical opinion.
[Updated in January 2024]

QConversion between Utility Model Application and Patent Application: Is it possible to convert between an utility model application and a patent application?

A
Yes. A utility model application may be converted to a patent application. A utility model application may be converted into a patent application within three years from the filing date only during the pendency of the case before the JPO. The owner of a utility model right may file a patent application based on their utility model registration (Art.46-2 of the Patent Law). However, in such a case, the owner shall abandon their utility model right to avoid double registration.
[Updated in January 2024]

QAdditional Fees for Multiple Dependent Claim: Are additional fees for a multiple dependent claim imposed?

A
No. Regardless of single/multiple dependency, a single claim is counted as one in the fee calculation.
[Updated in January 2024]

EXAMINATION

Patentability

QUnity of Invention: What is the requirement of the unity of invention in Japan?

A
If all the claimed invention in a single application is linked to form a single general inventive concept, the application meets the requirement of the unity of invention. This requirement corresponds to the rule 13 of the PCT.
More concretely speaking, if two or more inventions have identical or corresponding specific technical features, these inventions satisfy the conditions of the unity of invention. Here, “specific technical feature” means a technical feature contributes to the invention over prior art.
For more details of examples, see the Examination Guidelines, Part Ⅱ, Chapter 3.
[Updated in January 2024]

QAdvantageous effects or merits of the invention: Is the advantageous effects or merits of the invention required to be stated in the description?

A
An applicant should describe an advantageous effect of a claimed invention over the relevant prior art, if any, as far as they know.
[Updated in January 2024]

QExtent of Disclosure in the Description and Drawings vs. Broadness of Claims

How the claims must be supported by the description?

Art. 36(6)(i) requires “statement setting forth the invention for which patent is sought and which is described in the detailed description of the invention.” The JPO states that typical cases exhibiting nonconformity to the provision of Art. 36(6)(i) are presented as follows;

the matter corresponding to claims is neither stated nor implied in a detailed description of the invention;
the terms used in claims and those used in a detailed description of the invention are inconsistent, and as a result, the relationship between a claim and a detailed description of the invention is unclear;
the matter disclosed in a detailed description of the invention cannot be extended and generalized to the scope of the matter in a claimed invention even if taking into account the common general knowledge as of the filing; or
a means for solving the problems described in a detailed description of the invention is not reflected in the claims, and as a result, a patent beyond the scope described in a detailed description of the invention is consequently claimed.
[Updated in January 2024]

QUndue Breadth (Claims Reading on Inoperative Subject Matter): Does the presence of inoperative embodiments within the scope of a claim render the claim non-enabled?

A
Yes. As stated above, Art. 36(6)(i) requires “statement setting forth the invention for which patent is sought and which is described in the detailed description of the invention,” and therefore a claim must be supported over the whole of its breadth.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDefinition by Function: Is it possible to define a claimed invention by function?

A
Yes. There is no prohibition against the use of functional language in the claims. However, the JPO states that when the claims include matters defining a product by its function or characteristics, etc., the scope of the invention cannot necessarily be clear and an invention for which a patent is sought may not be clearly identified.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QRecitation in Optional Form: Are optional expressions permitted in a claim?

A
If there are expressions where optionally added items are described along with such words as “when desired,” “if necessary,” “preferably,” etc., there are some cases that the statement of the claims is not clear. Further, if there are recitations where numerical ranges include zero, for example, 0 to 10%, such a claim may be unclear since it is unclear as to whether the component concerned should be included or not, i.e., indispensable or optional.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QUse of Ambiguous Terms: Do vague terms indicating extent automatically render a claim invalid due to indefiniteness?

A
As a rule, vague terms indicating extent shall not be used when writing a claim. If there are expressions where the standard or degree of comparison is unclear such as “with slightly greater specific gravity,” “much bigger,” “low temperature,” “high temperature,” “hard to slip,” “easy to slip” or where the meaning of the term is unclear, there are some cases that the scope of the invention is not clear.
[Updated in January 2024]

QClaims Attempting to Define the Invention by Objectives to be Attained: Can a claim be defined by objectives to be attained?

A
The JPO states that where a claim includes the definition of a product by the result to be achieved, there may be cases where concrete products which can obtain such a result cannot be conceived. When a certain concrete means which can obtain such result is disclosed in the specification or drawings and it is also recognized that only the concrete means is substantially disclosed, the scope of the invention is usually deemed to be unclear.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDevices or Products with Limitations on Their Usage: May devices or products be claimed with limitations on their usage?

A
Yes. When devices or products are claimed with limitations on their usage, the protection conferred by the claim is interpreted as being limited to the stated use.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QNovelty: What are novelty requirements?

A
The Patent Law establishes three cases for novelty-breaking: publicly-known; publicly-worked; and publication. The publication contains publication by document and publication by electric telecommunication lines, so-called internet publication. A claimed invention must not fall under these cases.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDetails of Novelty Requirements

Explain details of novelty requirements.

Art.29(1) provides that a claimed invention loses its novelty when the invention comes under following cases:

publicly-known
An invention publicly known in Japan or other countries before a filing date of an application;
publicly-worked
An invention publicly worked in Japan or other countries before a filing date of an application; and
publication
An invention described in a document distributed to or utilizable by the public through electric telecommunication lines in Japan or other countries before a filing date of an application.
Note that “a document” is construed as a medium which have been made for the purpose of disclosure to the public by way of distribution. Therefore, “a document” includes, for example, a microfilm, a floppy disk or other media.
Further, “described” requires a skilled person technically recognizes the invention subject to the state of the art at the filing date. Therefore, “an invention described in a document” refers to an invention recognizable from the explicit description of the document and matters amount to be described therein.
“electric telecommunication lines” needs to be bidirectional, so one-way telecommunications, such as broadcasting, are not included. Internet connection is included, of course.
“utilizable by the public” means that the web page including information about an invention is linked from other web pages on the Internet or is placed within search engines and the web page is not inaccessible to the public. “utilizable” does not need actual view by somebody, a “utilizable” state itself can fulfill this requirement.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDate of Publication of a Paper Submitted to a Journal: Would a paper submitted for consideration by a professional journal be a “publication” as of the date it is submitted to the journal (i.e., before the journal actually prints the paper)?

A
No. Even though the paper has been submitted for consideration by a professional journal, it has not been actually distributed to a person having no secrecy obligation. Therefore, the actual distribution date of the journal is considered to be the publication date.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QGrace Period: Is there Grace Period in Japan?

A
Yes. According to Art 30, an applicant can claim Grace Period of 12 months, if their invention loses novelty against the will of the applicant or if their invention loses novelty due to their own act. A petition is required at the time of filing a patent application, and a document to prove the disclosure should be submitted within 30 days from the filing date.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QInventive Step in Japan: What the Law requires for an inventive step?

A
Art. 29(2) provides:
a patent shall not be granted for an invention where a person ordinarily skilled in the art could have been easily make the invention based on the prior art at the time of filing. Thus, the law requires that a patentable invention should involve such an inventive step that the skilled person could not have made the invention based on the prior art at the time of filing.
[Updated in January 2024]

QAdditional Experimental Data: Can an additional experimental data be submitted to overcome inventive step rejection?

A
Yes.
In an argument to be submitted in response to an office action, an additional experimental data may be added in the line of asserting that the claimed invention should involve the inventive step. The additional experimental data is typically used to show an advantageous effect over the prior art since the advantageous effect may be a factor in support of the existence of the inventive step. However, it is necessary to bear in mind that the additional experimental data merely can support the original specification such that it is necessary that the original disclosure states the advantageous effect or that the advantageous effect is speculated by a person skilled in the art from the disclosure. Then, the Examiner should consider the advantageous effect asserted in the argument.
[Updated in January 2024]

QPrior-Filed Application: Can a prior-filed patent/utility model application prevent a later-filed patent application from being granted?

A
Yes.
Art. 29-2 provides:
the later-filed patent application may not be granted if the prior-filed patent/utility model application discloses the identical invention of the later-filed patent application in the discloser even if the later-filed patent application is filed before the prior-filed patent/utility model application is laid open unless the inventor is identical or the applicant is identical to that of the prior-filed patent/utility model application once the prior-filed patent/utility model application is laid open (Art. 64(2), Art. 66(3), etc.).
[Updated in January 2024]

QSelf-Collision (Exemption of Art. 29-2): Does a prior-filed patent/utility model application always prevent a later-filed patent application from being granted?

A
No.
According to Art. 29-2,
the prior-filed patent/utility model application shall not prevent a later-filed patent application from being granted if the inventor or the applicant is identical. So-called self collision may be evaded.
[Updated in January 2024]

QForeign Prior-Filed Application: Does Art. 29-2 apply to a prior-filed application in any other country than Japan?

A
No.
Art. 29-2 applies only in the domestic cases (Japan).

QMedical Invention: How should a new medical compound be described in the disclosure?

A
Results of pharmacological study should be described for the purpose of confirming a pharmacological effect of the compound, which is claimed as a medicinal invention. Hence, in principle, all of the followings should be made sufficiently clear as the results of pharmacological study: (i) which compound was applied to (ii) what pharmacological study system such that (iii) what results were obtained, and (iv) how the pharmacological study system is relevant to the medicinal use of the claimed compound as a medicinal invention.
However, in order to demonstrate the effect (efficacy data) of the compound for treating a disease, at least one working example would be required.
[Updated in January 2024]

QSecond Use of a Known Pharmaceutical Composition: Can a second use of a known pharmaceutical composition be protected in Japan?

A
Yes.
A sample claim may be drafted as follows:
“A pharmaceutical composition for treating (combating) disease X (second purpose) comprising a compound Y as an active ingredient.”
The patentability of a pharmaceutical composition may be judged from two aspects. One is a compound itself contained in the composition, and the other is a pharmaceutical use (e.g., The Tokyo High Court Judgment of April 25, 2001 (Heisei 10(Gyo Ke)401) etc.). Therefore, even if the same compound is claimed as in a composition from a known pharmaceutical composition, the claimed pharmaceutical composition may be patentable for the second use as far as the second pharmaceutical use is clearly different from the first pharmaceutical use. If the second use can be derived from the first use (e.g., a species of the first use). the claimed invention based on the second use may not be patentable.
[Updated in January 2024]

QEnablement Requirement for Medicine: How can the enablement requirement be satisfied for the medical invention.

A
“According to the Examination Guideline, in general, one or more representative embodiments or working examples are necessary in the detailed description of the invention such that a person skilled in the art can work the invention, for example, can manufacture the claimed compound and can use the claimed compound for medicinal use based on the description and the common technical knowledge at the time of filing. In the description of the working examples, the pharmacological test result is usually required. The result of the pharmacological test should be described with numerical data as a general rule, but when the result cannot be described with the numerical data due to the nature of the pharmacological test system, an objective description equivalent to the numerical data for example, a description of the objective observation result by a medical doctor may be accepted. Furthermore, a clinical test, an animal experiment, and in-vitro test are employed as the pharmacological test system.”
[Updated in January 2024]

QPharmacological Data: Can a test result be later added if the specification includes exactly how the test should be conducted with respect to the claimed pharmaceutical composition?

A
No.
The written requirement (support and enablement) concerning the pharmaceutical invention is very strict in the recent practice. If the pharmacological efficacy data of the pharmaceutical composition of the example (or the description which is considered equivalent to the pharmacological efficacy data) is not described in the disclosure at the time of filing the patent application, such pharmacological efficacy data may not be added to the disclosure later. The addition of the data may be considered as new matter.
[Updated in January 2024]

QUse Invention: Can newly found use of a composition including known constitutes be protected in Japan?

A
Yes.
A use invention is defined as the invention based on (i) discovering an unknown attribute of a product and (ii) finding out that the product is suitable for a novel use application because of such an attribute. The following ideas on the use invention are generally applied to the technical fields (Example: a technical field for use of a composition including chemical substances) where it is relatively difficult to know how to use the product based on the structure or name of the product. If it is recognized that the limitation of use application has a role in specifying the claimed invention, the use limitation may specify the claimed invention. The claimed invention may be considered different from the cited prior art even if all the claimed elements correspond to all the elements of the cited prior art except for the limitation of use.
[Updated in January 2024]

QPhysical data or Test Data of a Compound

Assuming that an invention is a chemical compound, are physical data (such as melting points, viscosity, etc.) required for support an invention of a chemical compound?
If a herbicidal composition containing such a compound is claimed, are herbicidal test data required?
How many examples are necessary?

Yes.
It is usually necessary for supporting the utility of an invention of a chemical compound. Physical data or test data are useful for proving that the compound was actually prepared and for proving that the compound would be useful for the intended purpose (such as the use of an effective component for a pharmaceutical composition).
Yes.
As stated above, the chemical field is the technical field where the effect of a composition cannot be readily expected based on the components constituting the composition. It is usually impossible to expect the property or usefulness of the compound. Therefore, test data concerning the herbicidal effect should be usually necessary for proving an invention of a herbicidal composition.
Depends on the cases.
The disclosure of the specification has to enable one skilled in the art to practice the claimed invention. The chemical field is the technical field where the effect of a compound cannot be readily expected from its chemical structure or chemical name. Further, the support requirement is recently strictly evaluated. The support requirement is to evaluate how broadly the working example justifies or generalizes the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, it should be necessary to provide as many examples as possible at the filing date of the application. Generally, of course, at least one representative working example is required to support the chemical compound. If the chemical compound claimed is defined by the general formula covering a generic concept of a compound, which can broadly cover various distinct types of chemical structures from each other (such as an aliphatic group and aromatic group), it should be reasonably necessary to provide working examples for each one of the distinct chemical groups.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QLater filed supportive Data: If ex-post supportive data lacking in original application, such as physical/chemical/medical data for a chemical compound, are newly added in corresponding application claiming priority in Japan, are any detriments anticipated?

A
Yes, the priority may be denied. However, insufficient support or disclosure in the specification will cause a rejection of the application. Therefore, if the ex-post supportive data is essential to meet the support requirement or the disclosure requirement, there may be no choice. On the contrary, if the claimed invention is clear in its technical significance, such as usefulness, and can be prepared from the original disclosure, namely, a disclosure without the ex-post supportive data, the priority may be affirmed.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QPaper or Prophetic Examples: In the U.S., chemical patent applications often contain a mixture of examples which have actually been carried out and examples which are prophetic (or “paper”) examples. Do “paper” examples improve the acceptability of the Japanese patent application?

A
No. The “paper” or prophetic examples do not either improve the acceptability of the Japanese patent application; or create a specific problem. The JPO does not accept “paper” examples only. In addition, it is not possible to add to the specification, any data obtained by actually carrying out the prophetic examples, after the filing date of the application, as constituting new matter.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDeposit of Microorganism or Biotech Material: Assume the deposit has been made (e.g., plasmid, etc.) in the U.S. with ATCC prior to the U.S. filing date of the U.S. application. The Japanese law requires deposit prior to the filing of the priority application. The U.S. law allows deposit after filing of the application. The Accession Number from the ATCC was not made available until after the U.S. filling of the U.S. case. The Accession Number is therefore not disclosed in the U.S. application as originally filed. Can the Accession Number be added to the Japanese application?

A
No. The priority cannot be enjoyed for the Japanese application, if the invention is related to the microorganisms which were not easily available at the filing date of the U.S. application. In addition, the Accession Number from the ATCC (or any other International Depository Authority under Budapest Treaty, or a storage number when the deposit was made to a reliable public storage authority) cannot be added to the Japanese application even at the filing date of a Japanese application, even if it is desired to retain the convention priority right. Under the current practice, the Accession Number should be described in the basic application to enjoy the convention priority.
In this connection, the Examination Guidelines regarding microorganism explain a case of exceptionally acceptable supplement as follows:
“An amendment of an accession number of a microorganism is not regarded as addition of new matter, if microbiological characteristics of the microorganism are described in the specification as filed, to the extent that the microorganism can be identified, and deposit of the microorganism can be identified based on the name of the depositary institution, etc. In such a case, the applicant should make an amendment of the accession number without delay.” (Examination Hand book Appendix B, Chapter 2) If the accession number were added to the basic U.S. application after the filing thereof under the condition stated above, then it may be possible to enjoy the Convention priority based on the basic U.S. application for the corresponding Japanese application.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QSequence Listing

When an application includes an amino acid and/or nucleotide sequence, does the Japanese law require submit the sequence listing?
Must the sequence listing in computer readable form be submitted with the application?
Can the sequence listing be supplemented after the filing date of the application?

In case where a patent application (including an application claiming the priority of a foreign application and a PCT national phase application) describes an amino acid and/or a nucleotide sequence in the specification and/or figure, the applicant must prepare the sequence listing for the nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence in accordance with “Guidelines for the preparation of specification which contain nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences” and describe the sequence listing in the specification.
When the application is filed, the electronic data of the sequence listing in computer readable form (electronic data) must be submitted.
The submission of the electronic data is made by submitting a floppy disc or compact disc storing the data. When a patent application is filed by using on-line application system, the electronic data can be submitted together with the application.
It is not necessary to submit the sequence listing when the application is filed. However, when no sequence listing is submitted at the filing of the application, the JPO issues a notice of formal objection and requires the applicant to submit the electronic data of the sequence listing within the prescribed term (usually 30 days from the notice). Unless the electronic data are submitted within the prescribed term, the application will be dismissed. Therefore, it is recommendable to submit the sequence listing at the filing of the application.
[Updated in January 2024]

QTransgenic Animals: Have there been any decisions on what are “inventions liable to contravene public order, morality or public health”? In particular, is this an obstacle to the patenting of transgenic animals?

A
At present, the provision regarding public order, morality or public health is not considered to create any problem or question for patentability of transgenic animals in Japan.
There have been some decisions ruled by the Tokyo High Court. For example, a banknote forging apparatus, a vest usable for smuggling gold bars, an opium smoking tool, a man’s energy enhancing device, etc. were considered liable to contravene public order and morality. An invention relating to a bingo game machine was considered patentable although the judge recognized that it would be usable for gambling. A specific medicine for cancer and Streptomycin were both considered not liable to contravene public health in spite of the fact that they cause harmful but relievable after-effects when they are administered in large quantities.
A plant breed and an improvement of a breed of animal are patentable in Japan as long as they have novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability, and further they are properly disclosed in the applications so that anyone skilled in the art may easily carry out the inventions. In this connection, many patents regarding an animal itself have been granted in Japan. A Harvard mouse was also granted. No issue was raised in connection with public order, morality or public health.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QStatutory Requirements for CII

Explain statutory requirements for CII.

CII, includes software, needs to use natural laws as a whole. Following cases fulfills statutory requirements.

CII for controlling a concrete devise or processing accompanied with the controlling, e.g. a software for controlling an engine.
CII for information processing based on physical or technical properties of a subject, e.g. a software for image processing.
CII where information processing by software concretely realized by using hardware resources, such as an arithmetic unit such as a CPU, a storage means such as memory.
Therefore, a manmade rule such as a business model or a rule of video game itself cannot be patented, but when its information processing is concretely realized by using hardware resources, the statutory requirements could be fulfilled by above case (3).
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QClaim Categories of CII

Explain claim target and category thereof of CII.

CII can be expressed in various ways. Especially, claiming “a computer program” is admitted. These are exemplified as follows:
Category: device

a computer
a computer program*
a computer system
a computer readable storage medium storing a computer program
a data structure (which defines the data processing to be performed by a computer)
*A word other than “computer program” such as “neural network” may be used if the specification or drawings clearly show that such word means a computer program.
Category: method
method
Followings are unacceptable cases by non-clarity objections.
- – (a list of) program/data signals
- – a program product*
  *Except cases where it is clear which of categories 1 to 5 is meant by “a program product”.
  [Updated in January 2024]

QPure Algorithms or Program Listings: Can pure algorithms or program listings be patented?

A
No, they are considered to be a merely disclosure of information and not fulfill the statutory requirements.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDrafting Claims and Specification for CII: How to draft claims and specification for CII?

A
Claims must be drafted to define the invention which performs (i) control or processing related to control of equipment, etc. or (ii) data processing based on the technical nature of the subject. If neither (i) nor (ii) is defined, Claims must be drafted to use hardware resources on each matter to define the invention included in the claims.
Specification must describe how the procedure or function corresponding to those stated in a claim is implemented or realized by hardware of software. Description merely in an abstract or functional manner is insufficient.
Also, specification must describe how hardware or software is structured sufficient enough to understand. Only functional block diagrams or general flow charts may be insufficient.
[Updated in January 2024]

Prosecution

QWhen the request should be filed?: A
The request can be filed anytime within three years from the filing date. For a divisional application, a conversion application, and an application based on a utility model registration, a request for substantive examination can be filed within 30 days after filing such an application, even if the three-year period has been expired from the filing date of its original application.
If no request is filed within the prescribed period, the application is deemed to have been withdrawn.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QWhat kinds of Expeditions are available?: A
Preferential examination, accelerated examination, super-accelerated examination (trial) and examination under PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway) are available for expeditions.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QWhat is accelerated examination?

The accelerated examination is a non-statutory expedition. This is fast track and a first OA will be issued within two to three months after filing a request for accelerated examination. The accelerated examination can be requested by an applicant under the following conditions:

In the case of a working-related application
- (1.1) An explanation on the state of working which should specify:
- (1.1.1) A working-related act;
- (1.1.2) The period of time in which the invention has been worked or a date at which the invention is scheduled to be worked (not exceeding 2 years from the date of the Explanation form); and
- (1.1.3) The relationship between the invention and the working-related act.
- (1.2) A prior art search and comparative explanation which should include:
- (1.2.1) The result of the prior art search and a concise explanation of the relevance of each patent, publication or other information uncovered by the search.
In the case of an application having a foreign counterpart application.
- (2.1) Indication of the filing of an application in a foreign country or a region;
- (2.2) A prior art search and comparative explanation which should include:
- (2.2.1) The results of the prior art search; and a concise explanation of the relevance of each patent, publication or other information uncovered by the search.
  When the application has a foreign counterpart filed in a foreign Patent Office which adopts the substantive examination procedure, a search report prepared by the foreign Patent Office may be submitted in lieu of the document listed in the item (2.2) and (2.2.1).
In the case of a small and medium-sized enterprise or an individual-related application.
- (3.1) Explanation that the applicant is small and medium-sized enterprise or an individual.
- (3.2) Description of any prior art that the applicant has already known.
  In this case, a prior art search is not required.
In the case of a green technology related application (under trial).
- (4.1) Explanation based on specification that a claimed invention has an effect of saving energy, reducing CO2, etc.
- (4.2) A prior art search and comparative explanation which should include:
- (4.2.1) The result of the prior art search and a concise explanation of the relevance of each patent, publication or other information uncovered by the search.
In the case of an earthquake disaster recovery support related application (one year from August 1, 2011).
- (5.1) Explanation which should specify one of the following:
- (5.1.1) Facts that all or part of applicants has domicile or residence in specified disaster area and has suffered damage due to the earthquake.
- (5.1.2) Facts that business office, etc. of judicial person as an applicant is in specified disaster area and has suffered damage due to the earthquake, and the application for accelerated examination involves an invention related to business of this business office, etc.
- (5.2) A prior art and comparative explanation which should include:
- (5.2.1) The prior art known to the applicant and a concise explanation of the relevance of each patent, publication or other information known to the applicant. No prior art search is required considering that sufficient prior art search may not be conducted due to the damage suffered due to the earthquake.
In the case of an application related to the Act for Promotion of Japan as an Asian Business Center.
- (6.1)Description of the facts that:
- (6.1.1)all or a part of the applicants is a domestic affiliate company established by a specific multinational corporation for performing research and development business in accordance with a certified research and development business plan;
- (6.1.2)the invention described in the claim is related to the achievement of the research and development business plan; and
- (6.1.3)the application was filed within 2 years from the end date of the period of performing the certified research and development business.
- (6.2)A prior art search and comparative explanation which should include:
- (6.2.1)the result of the prior art search and a concise explanation of the relevance of each patent, publication, or other information uncovered by the search.
  [Reviewed in January 2024]

QWhat is super-accelerated examination?

The super accelerated examination is a non-statutory expedition and currently under trial run. This is the fastest track and a first OA is issued within one month after filing a request for super-accelerated examination (within two months in the case of PCT applications). However, response to the first OA should be filed within 30 days (normally, 60 days) for domestic applicants and 2 months (normally, 3 months) for foreign applicants. The super-accelerated examination can be requested by a patent applicant under the following conditions:

(1.1) an application that is both “a working-related application” (see previous answer) and “an application having a foreign counterpart application” (see previous answer).
(1.2) an application in which all procedures on or after four weeks before the request are carried out on-line.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QNon-final OA vs. Final OA: Are there different types of OA (Office Action)?

A
Yes, there are two types – a non-final office action and a final office action. A first coming OA is generally non-final. An OA after the non-final OA can be either non-final or final. The final OA is issued when the OA is required solely due to amendment made in response to another OA. Namely, when claim amendments in response to an OA introduce new reason for rejection, forthcoming OA will be final. Note that when responding to a final OA, claim amendment is restricted heavier than in a non-final OA.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDecision of rejection: Explain about decision of rejection.

A
Decision of rejection is an OA to finally reject an application at examination phase. This OA is issued when a response to a final or non-final OA does not overcome a reason for rejection in the OA.
To this decision of rejection, an appeal to appeal board can be filed for further prosecution.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDeclarations to Support Broad Claims: In the U.S., broad claims can be supported by later filed declarations. Can broad claims in a Japanese application be supported by later filed declarations showing operability of an invention?

A
For the purpose of meeting the disclosure requirement, it suffices to disclose only one example which is covered by the scope of the claimed invention. However, Examiner may reject a broad claim based on belief that the claim covers a non-operable portion. In this case, the Applicant may submit test data by a declaration to show operability of the invention.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QExtension of Time for Responding to OA

Is it possible to have an extension of time for responding to an OA? If so, how long is the extended period of time? Can we file an extension of time more than once? How much does it cost to file an extension of time?

Yes, it is possible to have an extension of time for responding to an OA. As of April 1, 2017, you can enjoy the following:

A two-month extension is obtainable by filing a first request for extension of time and further a one-month extension is obtainable by filing a second request for extension of time. The official fee is JPY2,100 for each request.
It is possible to file first and second requests, separately or simultaneously. There is no rise up of the official fee in later filed request. Thus, at most, you can have a three-month extension with the official fee of JPY4,200 in total.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QRequest for Extension of Time: Can a request for extension of time be submitted afterward?

A
Yes, the request can be submitted within two months from the expiration date of the time period for responding to an OA by paying the official fee of JPY51,000.
[Updated in January 2024]

QWhen can amendments be filed?

Amendment can be filed in the following time frames.

From filing an application to a first OA;
After an OA, a response period specified in the OA; and
After a decision of rejection, at the time when filing an appeal to appeal board.
[Updated in January 2024]

QRequirements for Amendment in response to non-final OA: Explain requirements for amendment after first OA

A
No new matter must be introduced.
For an application filed on or after April 1, 2007, unity of invention between examined claims and amended claims must be satisfied. Under the new law (The Patent Law Section 17-2(4))an amendment which changes the special technical feature of invention (i.e., shirt amendment) is prohibited once after receipt of an OA. The expression “special technical features” (STF) means a technical features that makes a contribution over prior art.
[Updated in January 2024]

QRequirements for Amendment after Final OA

Explain requirements for amendment after final OA

In addition to above answer, when responding to final OA, claim amendment is restricted to any one of the following purposes.

Cancellation of a claim or claims
Restriction of the scope of claims (limited to the cases where the restriction is to restrict already claimed matter, and the industrial applicability and the problem to be solved of the invention stated in the said claim or claims prior to the amendment are identical with those after the amendment)
Correction of errors; and
Clarification of an ambiguous statement (limited to the matters stated in the reasons for rejection in the OA).
For the purpose of item (ii) above, the amended claim must be patentable.
The same restriction on claim amendment as in the final OA is applied when filing an appeal against Decision of Rejection.
[Updated in January 2024]

QAmending Japanese claims to the Claims of foreign counterpart(s): Facts: An applicant has a first filed foreign application and a later filed Japanese application claiming priority to the foreign application. The applicant would be ultimately satisfied with the Japanese claims having the same scope as claims that issued in the foreign case.
QUESTION: In that case, is it advisable to amend the Japanese claims when requesting examination to parallel the issued foreign claim? Or should the applicant wait until the Examiner has issued the first Office Action before amending the claims?

A
It would normally be unnecessary to restrict the claims in a Japanese application to the scope of the issued foreign claims. Examination in Japan is done entirely independently of the U.S. or European or any foreign prosecution. The applicant is not currently obligated in Japan to report any prior art references uncovered in other countries. Therefore, it would be rather recommended to try to obtain a maximum scope of the patent protection in Japan regardless of claims in other countries if a maximum scope of protection is desired in Japan.
We believe that the applicant should wait till the first official action before amending the claims. However, it is quite conceivable that restricted claims would lead to quick issuance of a patent or to a stronger patent in view of a possible Invalidation Trial against the patent after grant, particularly when the prior art references cited in the foreign application are strong.
[Updated in January 2024]

QNew Matter: How is the new matter determined?

A
An amendment including matters beyond “the scope of features of the description, patent claim(s) or drawing(s) originally attached to the request”, in other words, an amendment including new matter is not allowed (Patent Law Section 17-3(3)).
According to the Examination Guidelines, “matters which are originally disclosed in the specification and the like” includes not only “matters which are originally disclosed in the specification and the like” but also “matters which are unambiguously derivable from the matters originally disclosed in the specification and the like”. Here, “the matters which are unambiguously derivable from the matters originally disclosed in the specification and the like” indicate matters which can be recognized by a person skilled in the art as the matters disclosed in specification and the like in view of technical knowledge available to public at the time of filing the request and considered to be nothing less than disclosed in the specification and the like.
[Updated in January 2024]

QAmendments Challenged by Third Parties

Can amendments be challenged by third parties? How and when?

Before publication
A patent application in Japan is automatically laid open to public inspection as a “KOKAI” publication after the lapse of 18 months from the filing date or, in the case of a patent application with a convention priority, from the priority date. Before the publication, no one can have access to the official file. Therefore, third parties cannot challenge any amendments filed in relation to the application during this period.
After publication and before grant of patent.
After a patent application is published and a publication thereof is issued, anyone can inspect the file wrapper and submit observation (third party observation) to the JPO. The third party observation may include not only prior art serving to negate the novelty or inventive step of the invention, but also insufficient description or new matter introduced after the filing of the application. The applicant is informed of the fact that third party observation has been submitted. Whether or not the submitted observation has been considered in the examination will be reported to the party who submitted the information, if the third party requests the JPO to do so. Since the party who submitted the observation is not engaged with the examination, he or she is unable to communicate with the Examiner by means of, e.g., an interview.
Under the Patent Law, the applicant can amend the specification and/or drawings at any time until a first Office Action is issued from the JPO.
After grant of patent
Third party observation can be submitted even after grant of patent.
Within 6 months from the issuance date of the patent, anyone can file opposition to challenge the amendments made by the applicant during prosecution. After a patent has granted, an interested party can initiate a procedure of Invalidation Trial. Through the procedure of the Invalidation Trial, the plaintiff of the Trial can challenge the amendments made by the applicant during prosecution.
[Updated in January 2024]

QPeriod for Reply to OA: When can reply to an OA, including argument, be filed?

A
Reply to the OA can be filed in a response period specified in the OA. Amendment can be filed in the response period, if necessary.
[Updated in January 2024]

QInterview with the Examiner

Is the interview with the examiner recommended?
Assume you have a case of critical importance to your client. What strategy do you recommend?

Seek an early interview with Examiner?
If so, do you wait First Office Action or should you try to see the Examiner before the Examiner studies the case?

Yes, the interview with the Examiner is the recommended procedure. It is very effective to hold an interview with the Examiner at any stage to obtain a result favorable to the applicant. It is recommendable to have an interview after fully discussing with a Japanese patent attorney how to proceed.
An Examiner is to conduct an interview with respect to an application on which the Examiner has started or is about to start the examination, while an Examiner is not to conduct an interview with respect to the following applications:

An application for which a request for examination has not been filed;
An application which has not reached the time for initiating the examination;
An application for which a decision of granting a patent has been drafted and approved within the JPO; and
An application for which a Decision of Rejection has been drafted and approved within the JPO (an application under reconsideration by the Examiner before the examination in the Appeal Board is excluded).
You are advised to wait until the first Office Action to be issued for No. 1 and 2.
[Updated in January 2024]

QObservations by third party: Is it possible for the third party to submit information to the JPO ?
If yes, when the information can be submitted?

A
Yes, the third party can submit information relevant to a patent application pending the JPO, particularly to negate the patentability of the patent application. The information can be submitted in the form of a third party’s observations at any time including after the patent granted under the 2003-revised patent law.
[Updated in January 2024]

QObservations by third party: Who can submit the observation?

A
Anyone may submit the information. Submission by anonymity is possible.
[Updated in January 2024]

QObservations by third party: What kind of information can be submitted?

A
Not only information relating to the lack of novelty or inventive step of inventions but also information relating to the insufficient description requirements and the introduction of new matter, etc. can be submitted.
[Updated in January 2024]

QFeedback of Information Submission: How is the feedback to the provider of the information done?

A
Requested by the provider of the information, the JPO will inform the provider in writing whether the submitted information has been used by the Examiner in the examination procedure.
[Updated in January 2024]

QNotification of Information Submission to Applicant: How is the applicant informed of the information submission?

A
The JPO will send a letter informing of submission of prior art under Rule 13-2 to the applicant. If the applicant wants to know what kind of information was submitted, he or she has to request for inspection of files.
[Updated in January 2024]

QEffect of Information Submission: Is the information submission system effective?

A
Yes. According to the JPO report published in October 2023, about 64% of the submitted information was used in the examination procedure.
[Updated in January 2024]

QDisadvantages of information Submission: Are there any disadvantages?

A
Provider of the information can not contact the Examiner to explain on the submitted information. The applicant will be aware of the importance of the claimed invention to the provider.
[Updated in January 2024]

QFiling an Appeal against Rejection: How and when to appeal against Examiner’s decision of rejection?

A
A written appeal to the JPO within three months (for domestic resident) or four months (for overseas resident) from the date of transmittal of Examiner’s decision of rejection. The written appeal must contain the object and grounds of the appeal. The grounds of the appeal can be complemented afterward.
[Updated in January 2024]

QAmendments: Can a set of claims, a specification or drawings be amended when filing an appeal against Examiner’s decision of rejection? If yes, are there any requirements upon amendments?

A
You can amend the set of claims, the specification and the drawings. All amendments must be filed together with the appeal. There are requirements same as in a case of a final-OA.
[Updated in January 2024]

QReconsideration by Examiner before Appeal: Explain reconsideration by examiner before appeal.

A
If an amendment is filed together with the appeal, an examiner, usually the same examiner who was in charge of the previous examination, reconsiders the decision.
The Examiner will grant a patent when the previous decision of rejection should be annulled, while, if it is not the case, he won’t make a final decision and entrusts the appeal case to the appeal examination by appeal examiners.
[Updated in January 2024]

QDocumentary Proceeding: Is there any summons, like oral proceedings in the EPO, expected in an appeal against Examiner’s decision of rejection?

A
Generally, no. An appeal against Examiner’s decision of rejection is conducted in which the appeal is examined by document by proceeding in principle.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QAppeal Decision: What kinds of appeal decision do an appeal board provides?

A
Grant a patent, rejection or remand to an Examiner’s examination. The appeal decision of rejection can be sued.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QGeneral Requirements for Suit against Appeal Decision: Explain general requirements for suit against an appeal decision of rejection.

A
Jurisdiction: The Intellectual Property High Court (Tokyo), exclusive.
Term of limitation: 30 days for statutory period and additional 90 days for foreign plaintiff from a transmittal date of the appeal decision of rejection. No extension of time is permitted.
Nominal defendant: The commissioner of the JPO.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QAmendment, Divisional Application: Can I amend a set of claims or a specification of an application when suing against an appeal decision? How about a divisional application?

A
No. Neither an amendment nor filing a divisional application is permitted.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QComplaints against the IP High Court Decision: Can I file complaints against the IP High Court Decision?

A
Yes, you can appeal to the Supreme Court. This is final appeal. Note that grounds for final appeal are legally restricted to certain situations.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QRegistration: How to register granted patent?

A
To pay annual fees of the first three years within 30 days from transmittal date of an Examiner’s decision of grant or an appeal decision of grant a patent. This period can be extended by 30 days by filing a petition beforehand.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QTerm and Maintenance of Patent right: How long can a patent right sustained?

A
A term of a patent right starts from its registration and expires 20 years from its filing date. No adjustment of Patent Term, like in U.S., can be applied. The patent right requires annual fees for every year after its grant. Annuities for the first three years must have paid at the time of registration, and annuities for the fourth year or after must be paid before the year covered thereby. Six months delay in payment is permitted with additional surcharge equal to the annuity. Further, in the event of a delay caused by an unintentional reason, payment can be carried out within two months from it becomes available under the condition that it is within a maximum of one year, where the last day of the procedural period is on or after April 1, 2023. If the last day of the procedural period is before April 1, 2023, permission can only be granted for the delay caused by a legitimate reason. Before the grant of the patent, no annuity, e.g. maintenance fee in European patent system, is required.
[Updated in January 2024]

QHow to Know Maintenance / Expiration of Registration

How to know maintenance / expiration of registration?

Several ways are available.

Make a request for inspection of files to the JPO. You can check the patent register thereby, thus this is most reliable and up-to-date way. Certain amount of official fees is needed. Online inspection is available, by e-filing software provided by National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT).
Use Japan Platform for Patent Information(J-PlatPat), which is web-based online library provided by INPIT (http://www.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/). The J-PlatPat provides legal status search. You can check a status of payment of annuity of certain patent right. Note that J-PlatPat may have some delay. Neither fees nor special e-filing software is necessary.
Use certain commercial database services. Costs and reliability are depending on each service provider.
Use Global Dossier service.
[Updated in January 2024]

QRegistration of Extension of Term of Patent Right: Can a term of patent right be extended beyond statutory 20 years?

A
Yes, By filing an application for registration of an extension of the term of a patent right, the term can be extended. This extension is permitted only when the patent right is concerning medical drugs or agricultural chemicals, and there have been unexploitable period due to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act or the Agricultural Chemicals Regulation Act. Extendable period is limited up to five years.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

PATENT RIGHTS

Infringement

QImplementation

Explain the definition of Implementation in Japanese practice.

Implementation of an invention in this Law means the following acts:

In the case of an invention of a product, acts of manufacturing, using, assigning, leasing, importing or offering for assignment or lease (including displaying for the purpose of assignment or lease – hereinafter the same) of, the product;
In the case of an invention of a process, acts of using the process;
In the case of an invention of a process of manufacturing a product, acts of using, assigning, leasing, importing or offering for assignment or lease of, the product manufactured by the process, in addition to the acts mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QRemedies for Patent Infringement

What kind of recourse is available for patent infringement in Japan?

With regard to civil recourse for patent infringement, a patentee can seek an injunctive order, demand damages, demand restitution for unjust enrichment, and seek measures for recovery of reputation.

Injunctive Order
A patentee can request an injunction against a person who is infringing or is likely to infringe the patent right.
Demanding Damages
A patentee can demand damages against a person who has intentionally or negligently infringed the patent right. The Patent Law has some provisions relating to such damages, including Art. 102 (presumption of amount of damage), Art. 103 (presumption of negligence), Art. 104 (presumption of manufacture by patented process), and Art. 105 (production of documents).
Demanding Restitution for Unjust Enrichment
Under certain circumstances, a patentee may demand restitution for unjust enrichment from a person who has infringed the patent.
Measures for Recovery of Reputation
Upon request of a patentee, the court can order a person who has damaged a patentee’s business reputation to take measures to recover the damaged reputation.
[Updated in January 2024]

QInjunction: What is required to grant an injunction against infringement of a patent?

A
A patentee can request an injunction against a person who is infringing or is likely to infringe their patent under the Patent Law Art. 100. A patentee can seek an injunctive order even if he/she is not carrying out the patented invention. No willfulness or negligence is required to grant an injunction. Nevertheless, the likelihood of infringement needs to be proved objectively clear.
At the same time, a patentee can also demand measures necessary for the prevention of such infringement including disposal of infringing products and removal of facilities used for the infringement.
[Updated in January 2024]

QDamages

How is the award of damages calculated in Japan?

The Patent Law has provision for presumption of amount of damage (Art. 102). According to the Patent Law Art. 102, a patentee can select one of the following three methods to calculate damages caused by infringement.

A patentee can demand the amount of profit per unit of patented products that would have been sold by the patentee but for the infringement, multiplied by the quantity of patented products sold by the infringer. In this case, the award of damages shall not exceed the patentee’s capability to produce or sell such patented products.
When an infringer has earned profits from the act of infringement, a patentee can demand the amount of profits earned by the infringer as damages caused by the infringement.
A patentee can demand the amount of a royalty the patentee would have been entitled to receive for the patent.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QMonetary Recovery Before the Issuance of the Patent: Can a patentee seek monetary recovery for an infringer’s act carried out before the issuance of the patent?

A
Yes. Once a patent is granted, a patentee can demand compensation for an infringer’s act carried out before the issuance of the patent if the patentee provided a given warning with documents stating the contents of the claimed invention after the laid-open publication of the application. If an infringer knowingly infringed the claimed invention after the laid-open publication of the application, a patentee can demand compensation without a given warning. The amount of compensation shall be equivalent to the amount of a royalty the patentee would have been entitled to receive for the claimed invention.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDefendant’s Defense: What can a defendant do if a patentee files a suit for patent infringement?

A
If a patentee files a suit for patent infringement, a defendant has some options: First, the defendant may counterclaim that the alleged patent is invalid. Alternatively, the defendant may file a trial to invalidate the patent. In some circumstances, the defendant may file a suit for declaratory judgment that the patentee has no right to sue the defendant.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QClaim Interpretation: How does the Japanese court interpret a claim?

A
In assessing whether a claim reads on an accused product or process, the court first considers the explicit claim language under the Patent Law Art. 70(1). However, if the claim language is indefinitely vague and ambiguous, the court can consult the specification and the drawings, wherein the court may consider the object, advantages and/or individual embodiments. Basically, the essence of the claimed invention does not reside in the object and/or advantage but in the structure. On December 26, 1991 in the “Lightweight Coated Paper Case,” the Tokyo High Court held, in favor of the plaintiff (patentee), that the accused product was different in its objective from the patent’s but had the same technical features as those recited in the claims.
Defendants often try to defend themselves by insisting that their product or process achieves no such advantages expected by the patent. However, the advantages mentioned in the specification are not always intended to delimit the invention. The advantages are arbitrary predictions rather than facts, lacking the objectivity. The alleged advantages should be distinguished from “industrial applicability (utility)” as one of the requirements for patentability.
Specific embodiments or examples are generally provided for illustrative purposes and are not considered to limit the scope of the invention, except when the claim language is unreasonably broad beyond the description. The excessively broad scope of the claim will be contrary to the policy of the patent system where a patent is given in return for disclosure of the invention to the public. In cases where the scope of the claim is indefinite in light of the embodiments and/or prior art, defendants often refer to the prosecution history.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDoctrine of equivalence

Is the doctrine of equivalence available in Japan?

In view of the fact that Japan adopts a statutory law system, and therefore every statute is supreme as the primary legal source. Therefore, the Patent Law Art. 70 is absolute. Judicial judges were hesitant to adopt the doctrine of equivalents to find infringement beyond the letter of a claim. In fact, until 1998 the courts had never held an infringement 57
under the doctrine of equivalents. However, on February 24, 1998, the Supreme Court has provided a guideline in favor of the doctrine of equivalents. Specifically, the following five requirements must be satisfied for successfully asserting the doctrine of equivalents:

The part replaced is an insubstantial part of the claimed invention;
The replacement of the part achieves the object of the claimed invention and produces the same result as the claimed invention;
The replacement of the part would have been obvious to a skilled person at the time of making the accused product (the time of infringement);
The accused product was novel and non-obvious at the time when the application was made, which means that the accused product could be patentable; and
There is no proof showing that the applicant intentionally excluded the accused product from the claimed invention during the prosecution. This requirement corresponds to the file wrapper estoppels established in the U.S. courts.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QProsecution history estoppels: Is the doctrine of prosecution history estoppels available in Japan?

A
Generally, the doctrine of prosecution history estoppels is also available in Japan. For example, the matter the patentee intentionally excluded during prosecution is excluded from the scope of protection.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QDoctrine of Claim Differentiation: Is the doctrine of claim differentiation or its equivalent available in Japan? Specifically, in a case where different words or phrases are used in different claims, are those claims presumed to have different scopes?

A
Japan does not have the doctrine of differentiation or its equivalent.
In this regard, the Patent Law Art. 36(5) provides that separate claims can be directed to substantially the same invention in the same application. This provision is intended to guide claim drafting but not to govern claim interpretation.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

Trial for Patent Invalidation

QTrial for patent invalidation: What is a trial for patent invalidation?

A
A trial for patent invalidation is an administrative procedure to invalidate a patent. When a trial for patent invalidation is requested, a panel consisting of three or five trial examiners examines the patent based upon ex officio proceedings. In principle, oral proceedings are used in a trial for patent invalidation.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QGrounds for Patent Invalidation

What kind of grounds can be asserted in a trial for patent invalidation?

A trial for patent invalidation can be requested on the following grounds:

Any amendment that was made to the patent application does not comply with the requirements as provided.
The patent violates the provision of the enjoyment of rights by foreign nationals, patent eligibility, novelty, inventive step, novelty over later-published prior art, co-application by co-applicants, and double patenting.
The patent violates a treaty.
The patent has been granted on a patent application not complying with the requirements for description of the patent application.
When the application was filed in a foreign language, the disclosure of the patent is not within the scope of foreign language documents.
The patent application was filed by a person who is not the inventor and has not succeeded to the right to obtain a patent for the invention.
After the grant of a patent, the patentee has become unable to hold a patent right under the provision of the enjoyment of rights by foreign nationals, or the patent has become in violation of a treaty.
Any correction that was made to the patent does not comply with the requirements as provided.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QWho can request a trial for patent invalidation?: A
Generally, anyone can request a trial for patent invalidation. However, only an interested party can request a trial for patent invalidation if the trial is requested on the grounds that the patent application was not jointly filed by co-applicants or that the patent application was filed by a person who is not the inventor and has not succeeded to the right to obtain a patent, only a person who has the right to obtain a patent can request a trial.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QWhen can a trial for patent invalidation be requested?: A
A trial for patent invalidation can be requested anytime after a patent has been issued. A trial for patent invalidation can be requested even after a patent has been expired.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QAmendments

Can a patentee amend claims during a trial for patent invalidation?

A patentee may request for amendment (correction) of claims during a trial for patent invalidation. Such request can be made within the time limit designated for a patentee’s response to a written request for the trial or to an examination result in a case where the panel has examined any grounds not pleaded by a party.
Such correction shall be made within the disclosure of the patent application as filed. Furthermore, such correction shall not substantially enlarge or alter the scope of claims. Additionally, such correction shall be limited to the following purposes:

To limit the scope of claims;
To correct any error in the description or any incorrect translation; and
To clarify an ambiguous expression.
To rewrite a claim citing another claim as a claim not citing the other claim.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QComplaints against a Trial Decision: What kind of action can be taken against a decision of a trial for patent invalidation?

A
Either party who cannot accept the decision of the trial for patent invalidation may appeal the case to the IP High Court. Such appeal must be made within 30 days from the date on which the decision of the trial has been served. This time limit may be extended for a party in foreign counties.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

Trial for Correction

QDefinition: What is a trial for correction?

A
A trial for correction is an administrative procedure to correct the description, scope of claims or drawings attached to the application of the patent. When a trial for correction is requested, a panel consisting of three or five trial examiners examines the advisability of these corrections.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QTypes of Correction

What kind of correction can be requested?

The corrections are limited to the followings:

Restriction of the scope of claims;
Correction of errors or incorrect translations;
Clarification of an ambiguous statement; and
Please note that the correction of the description, the scope of claims or the drawings have to remain within the scope of the matters disclosed in the description, the scope of claims, or the drawings attached to the application of the patent (in the case of correction target of the errors or the incorrect translations, the description, the scope of claims and the drawings originally attached to the application of the patent (in the case of a patent with regard to a foreign language written application, foreign language documents)). Further, the correction of the description, the scope of claims or the drawings cannot substantially enlarge or alter the scope of claims.
Rewriting of a claim citing another claim as a claim not citing the other claim.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QStanding: Who can file a request for a trial for correction?

A
The patentee (patent owner) can only file the request. Please note that, when a request for the trial is filed regarding the patent of the joint ownership, all of joint owners have to jointly file the request. Further, if there is a non-exclusive licensee under Art. 35(1), 77(4) or 78(1) of the Japanese patent law, an exclusive licensee, or a pledgee, the patent owner needs the consent of the said person in order to file the request.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QStatutory Limitation: When can a trial for correction be requested?

A
A trial for correction cannot be requested from the time the relevant opposition trial for patent invalidation has become pending before the Patent Office to the time the decision of the opposition or the trial has become final and binding.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QComplaints against a Dismissal of Trial for Correction: What kind of action can be taken against a decision to dismiss a trial for correction?

A
The patent owner who cannot accept the decision to dismiss the request for the trial for correction can appeal the case to the IP High Court. Such appeal must be made within 30 days from the date on which the decision of the trial has been served. This time limit may be extended for a party in foreign counties.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

Administrative Opinion, Others

QDefinition of Administrative Opinion: What is an administrative opinion?

A
An administrative opinion is a judgment of the JPO on the technical scope of a patented invention. When an administrative opinion is requested to the JPO, a panel consisting of three trial examiners judges the technical scope of a patented invention. Specifically, the administrative opinion includes the judgments whether or not disputed property (or method) between parties is included within the technical scope of a patented invention, as well as whether or not the disputed property (or method) is equivalent to the patented invention under the doctrine of equivalents. Please note that the administrative opinion is non-legally binding.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QStanding for Requesting Administrative Opinion: Who can request an administrative opinion to the JPO?

A
Anyone can.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QComplaints against an Administrative Opinion: What kind of action can be taken against an administrative opinion?

A
No appeal can be available against the administrative opinion.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QTrial for Invalidation of Registration of Extension of Term of Patent Right: What is a trial for invalidation of Registration of Extension of Term of Patent Right

A
A trial for invalidation of registration of extension of term of patent right is an administrative procedure to invalidate the extension registration.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

QRetrial: What is a retrial?

A
The retrial is an administrative procedure to re-examine a final and conclusive trail decision. Please note that grounds for the retrial are strictly limited.
[Reviewed in January 2024]

Tips

Mediation Proceedings Related to Intellectual Property Rights: 1. Services Provided by the Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center

When a dispute related to intellectual property rights arises and it is difficult to resolve the dispute by discussion between the parties to the dispute, such dispute may be resolved mainly by filing an action with a court or by means of an alternative dispute resolution (hereinafter referred to as “ADR”). An example of ADR is mediation. Parties to a dispute may have mediation proceedings related to intellectual property rights at the Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center (hereinafter referred to as “JIPAC”). JIPAC is a private ADR organization that has been operated jointly by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations since April 1998. Its services include not only mediation services but also various other services related to intellectual property rights such as consultation, arbitration, JP domain name dispute resolution, the Center’s advisory opinion, the Center’s essential patent evaluation, advisory opinion on operability, and evaluation of the level of contribution of a patent to business. JIPAC is an ADR organization certified under the ADR Act (Certification No. 119). The JIPAC website (https://www.ip-adr.gr.jp/eng/) shows a detailed explanation of services provided, examples of dispute resolution cases and other matters.

2. Characteristics of mediations by JIPAC

The characteristics of mediations by JIPAC are (i) expertise, (ii) being closed to the public, (iii) neutrality and fairness, (iv) voluntariness, (v) flexibility and (vi) speediness.

(i) Characteristic 1: Expertise
The persons who may serve as mediators when an application for mediation is made (mediator candidates) consist of experienced attorneys-at-law, patent attorneys and academic experts. In JIPAC mediations, mediators exhibit their very high expertise and present a persuasive mediation proposal by forecasting the result of a lawsuit that may be filed if the dispute is not settled by mediation. Mediators are appointed by the Director of the Center of JIPAC, and the parties are also allowed to appoint the mediators whom they want to appoint if the parties agree on such appointment.

(ii) Characteristic 2: Being closed to the public
In the case of a lawsuit, court proceedings take place at an open court on the date for oral argument and the judgment and records thereof are generally disclosed to the public. On the other hand, mediation proceedings at JIPAC, including whether or not an application for mediation is made, are not disclosed to the public and the result of mediation proceedings is also not published. For this reason, a dispute may be resolved without the existence of such dispute being known to third parties.

(iii) Characteristic 3: Neutrality and fairness
JIPAC is an organization established jointly by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and its neutrality and fairness are guaranteed. In addition, the Rules for Mediation Proceedings of JIPAC provide for the exclusion or challenge of mediators, and JIPAC always confirms that mediators have no interest in the relevant case before appointing the mediators.

(iv) Characteristic 4: Voluntariness
In mediations by JIPAC, the parties to a dispute can have advanced discussion with the mediators, who are third parties with abundant experience and knowledge. As a result, if the parties can find a point of compromise, they can reach a settlement. If the parties think there is no room for compromise, they can refuse to reach a settlement and terminate the mediation proceedings. Because of this voluntariness, mediation by JIPAC is considered to be the more sensible response to a dispute compared with simply continuing to ignore the other party’s demands, with a risk of being sued.

(v) Characteristic 5: Flexibility
Mediations by JIPAC are a purely voluntary method of dispute resolution by a private organization and therefore have the advantage of being flexible. For example, when a party makes a claim for the payment of money, the party is not always required to specify the amount in the application for mediation, and there is no problem with stating “we claim an appropriate compensation” or the like in the application. Unlike court settlements where the parties feel pressured from being subject to a judicial decision if they cannot reach an agreement, mediation by JIPAC is commenced only after the other party agrees to commence mediation proceedings. Therefore, mediation by JIPAC is flexible with regard to the progress of proceedings. In addition, mediations by JIPAC allow the parties to discontinue mediation proceedings partway along the process to return to voluntary negotiation, file an action, or take other options.
JIPAC also provides arbitration services (a dispute resolution system under which the parties to a dispute are assumed to agree in advance to appoint arbitrators, who are neutral third parties, to make a decision on the dispute and follow such decision) in addition to mediation services. For this reason, JIPAC may start with mediation proceedings and, if the parties in the medication proceedings reach an agreement to commence arbitration proceedings, move on to arbitration proceedings, thereby taking the proceedings successively in order to exploit the advantages of both mediation and arbitration proceedings. In this case, mediators may continue to serve as arbitrators, or new arbitrators may be appointed depending on the will of the parties.

(vi) Characteristic 6: Speediness
The average time period required to resolve a dispute through JIPAC mediation is 176 days (the median is 162 days) and the minimum number of days required for proceedings is 65, although it depends on the level of cooperation between the parties and the details of the case. When the parties want to resolve a dispute speedily, it is possible to perform examination in a concentrated manner in a shortened period of time. With respect to the dates for mediation proceedings, we expect that about three dates will be required for resolution and aim to complete the proceedings within six months from the first date of mediation proceedings, although it will differ depending on the nature of the case. Looking at past cases of dispute resolution, the average number of dates is 4 (the median is 4) and the minimum number of dates is 2. This indicates that the proceedings until the resolution of disputes proceeded almost as expected.

3. Advantages of mediations by JIPAC

As stated above, mediations by JIPAC are characterized by their expertise, being closed to the public, flexibility, and speediness, and therefore can be an excellent means of dispute resolution when the parties have the intention to resolve the dispute by discussion and want to resolve the dispute soon or at a place closed to the public.
In addition, intellectual property-related mediations in court do not allow the parties to appoint the members of the Mediation Committee, but mediations by JIPAC allow the parties to appoint the mediators whom they want to appoint if the parties agree on such appointment. For example, the parties may appoint the same mediators as the mediators for a past mediation case or appoint attorneys-at-law or patent attorneys who are specialized in the relevant field. They may also appoint, for example, a former judge who was in charge of famous lawsuits in the past or an academic expert who has published many papers. The fact that the parties are allowed to appoint mediators whom they can trust is considered to be a strong point of JIPAC mediations.
As stated above, mediations by JIPAC have various advantages that lawsuits do not have.

Fee Reduction: The Japan Patent Office offers fee reductions for qualified applicants and patentees. The fee reductions are available for examination fees and annuities.

There are several types of qualifications for fee reductions. To learn about the qualifications in detail, you may find a leaflet that describes the JPO fee reduction system on the JPO website (see here.) . This leaflet shows that the JPO’s fee reduction system is so complicated that you will need a lot of time to determine whether or not you are eligible for a fee reduction.

In order to allow you to quickly determine whether you are eligible for fee reductions, therefore, we provide you with the following simplified chart for major qualifications. For the simplified chart, we assume that an applicant or a patentee is a company.

For the venture entity or startups qualification, you will need to satisfy all of requirements 1) to 3) to receive a fee reduction to 1/3 of the standard fee . The requirements for a micro and small/medium entity vary depending on the kind of applicant/patentee’s industry. For the micro entity qualification, you will need to satisfy both of requirements 1) and 2) to receive a fee reduction to 1/3 of the standard fee. For the small/medium entity qualification, you will need to satisfy either requirement 1) or 2) and also satisfy requirement 3) to receive a fee reduction to 1/2 of the standard fee.

If you satisfy the above requirements, you can readily receive a fee reduction because no declaration or proof has been required to be submitted since April 1, 2019.

Please note that the simplified chart does not cover all of the qualifications that are available to foreign applicants or patentees. Please contact a Japanese patent attorney if you would like to know the details of other qualifications for fee reductions.

Question

APPLICATION

(1) Protection Target

(2) Novelty

(3) Inventive Step

(4) Procedures for application

(5) Fees

(6) Examination

(7) Amendment and Correction

(8) Term of right

(9) Exercise of right