JPO s recent developments IP5 Heads of Office with IP5 Industry Meetings 31 May 2017 Japan Patent Office
Changes in Number of Patent Applications and Registrations Numbers of Patent Applications, Patent Registrations, and Requests for Examination ( 件 / Number) 500000 450000 Number of Patent Applications Number of Requests for Examination Number of Patent Registrations Patent Registration Rate Rate for Request for Examination In Examination Request Period (%) 100 90 400000 80 350000 70 300000 60 250000 50 200000 40 150000 30 100000 20 50000 10 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 0 ( Filing Year) 1
Achieving More Prompt and Higher Quality Examinations Fastest in the World Standard Total Pendency* : Around 15 months FA Pendency : Around 10 months The World s Highest Level *Excluding some cases where the JPO requests an applicant to respond to the second notification of reasons for refusal and where the applicant performs procedures he/she is allowed to use, such as requests for extension of the period of response and for an accelerated examination. Highest Quality - Creation of Strong, Broad-scoped, and Useful Patent Rights Initiatives for Quality Management To strengthen the quality management system of approvals, consultations, quality audits, etc. Enhancing Foreign Literature Searches Increase searches conducted by registered search agencies on foreign patent literature Examination Based on Revised Examination Guidelines Examination based on thoroughly reviewed Examination Guidelines with the simple contents which are easier to understand 2
100% Advanced Examination Management Number of Months Pendency from the Time Requests for Examination were Made; and Percentage of Examination Requests (Months) 8,0 Differences in Average FA Pendency at the JPO and that for Each Technical Field 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Average FA Pendency 6,0 4,0 2,0 0,0-2,0-4,0 0% 0 2 4 6 8 1012141618202224262830323436 Pending (Before FA) (Number of months from Pending (After FA) the time requests for Examination Completed examination were made) Accelerated Examination -6,0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Physics, Optics and Social Infrastructure Mechanical Technology Chemistry, Life Science and Material Science Electronic Technology 3
Cooperation on IP matters with Emerging Countries Reinforcing ASEAN s Infrastructure ASEAN-Japan Heads of IP Offices Meeting The JPO and IP Offices of the ASEAN countries adopted the Japan- ASEAN Joint Statement for Intellectual Property 2017 taking into consideration the ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan for 2016-2025 and agreed on the ASEAN IPOs-JPO IPR Action Plan 2017-2018. Main points of the Action Plan 2017-2018 Accelerate patent examinations and improve the quality of examinations Increase utilization of IP in the ASEAN Region (commercializing IP, disseminating information, and raising awareness on IP rights) Strengthen collaboration with IP enforcement agencies The 7 th ASEAN-Japan Heads of IPO Meeting in Kanazawa on May 15, 2017 Reinforcing India s and Latin America s Infrastructure Sending JPO examiners to the countries Inviting India s and Latin America s examiners to training courses in Japan Training Course for New Examiners in the India Patent Office 4
International Exchange Activities in the Legal Field of Intellectual Property The JPO s initiatives for strengthening the enforcement of intellectual property rights includes promoting international exchange activities in the legal field of intellectual property (IP). The JPO holds various symposiums on IP and conducts mock trials. This has been done in collaboration with. various related organizations including legal professionals. Examples of international exchange activities in the legal field of IP 1. United States/Japan Patent Symposium (in Washington D.C.) The JPO participated in the United States/Japan Patent Symposium in May 2016, which was hosted by the Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court that serves as a means for the U.S. legal community to exchange opinions in the area of intellectual property. Photo of the United States/Japan Patent Symposium 2. Europe / Japan Mock Trial (in Paris) In September 2016, the JPO held an international symposium jointly with the European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW), the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), and the Intellectual Property Lawyers Network Japan (IPLNET). At the symposium, many individuals involved in IP participated from the U.K., France, Germany, and Japan. 3. Symposium on Patent Litigation in Europe/Japan 2016 (in Tokyo) In November 2016, the JPO held an international symposium jointly with the German-Japanese Lawyers' Association, the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property of Japan (AIPPI JAPAN). At the symposium, many individuals involved in IP participated from Japan and Europe. Photo of the Europe / Japan Mock Trial - Gathering evidence in patent proceedings (in Paris) Photo of the Symposium on Patent Litigation in Europe and Japan 2016 (in Tokyo) 5
Initiative for Responding to the Fourth Industrial Revolution Initiative with METI The JPO, in collaboration with the relevant departments of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), set up a committee to discuss the best possible intellectual property (IP) system, in order to deal with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. (1) Discussion on a system for encouraging utilization of data (2) Discussion on the best possible IP system to deal with changes in industrial structures (3) Promote strategic international standardization to respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution JPO s Initiative The JPO has undertaken following initiatives to respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. (1) Establishment of New Patent Classifications for IoT-related Technologies. (2) Publishing Case Examples of Examinations on IoT-related Technologies. (3) Setting up an Consulting Team for Examination of IoT-related invention. 6
Thank you! 7