Announcement of the Report Compiled by the Patent System Subcommittee under the Industrial Structure Council- Toward Early Acquisition of Strong and Stable Patent Rights and Improvement of User-friendliness -

As economy has globalized and open innovation has advanced, an increasing number of enterprises are endeavoring to promptly acquire patent rights in Japan and to advance acquisition and utilization of the patent rights on a global basis, and accordingly, the importance of promptly securing strong and stable patent rights in Japan has been growing. At the same time, procedures under patent systems are being harmonized globally.

Considering these situations, the Patent System Subcommittee under the Intellectual Property Policy Committee of the Industrial Structure Council has discussed the legislative challenges of the patent system and compiled the report.

1) Introduction of a post grant review system

The report states that it is appropriate to introduce a system that provides an opportunity to review granted patents during predetermined periods after issuing the patents (a post grant review system) so as to acquire strong and stable patent rights promptly as well as to promote enterprises' economic activities.

2) Improvement of user-friendliness

The report also notes that it is appropriate to strengthen the provisions on relief in terms of procedures of patent applications and provide timely relief to such procedures of applications filed by victims of large-scale disasters, both man-made and natural inside and outside Japan, as well as to simplify the process of paying fees, such as those for international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

• Full text of the report(PDF:2,742KB) (in Japanese)

February 28, 2013

Legislative Affairs Office, General Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, Japan Patent Office