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What's New in Japan and Ninopat
(1) Prime Minister of today --- Taro ASO, born 1940
(2) Commissioner of Japan Patent Office --- Takashi SUZUKI /born 1949
(3) National Holidays 2009 in Japan
-----Jan.1, Jan.12, Feb.11, Mar.20, Apr.29, May 4, May 5, May 6
-----Jul.20, Sep.21, Sep. 22, Sep.23, Oct.12, Nov.3, Nov.23, Dec.23
-----In addition, Jan.2, 3, Dec.29, 30, 31, every Saturday
-----and Sunday, Japan Patent Office is closed.
-----In turn, on every Saturday, Ninopat is open.
(4) National Holidays 2008 in Japan
-----Jan.1, Jan.14, Feb.11, Mar.20, Apr.29, May 3, May 5, May 6
-----Jul.21, Sep.15, Sep.23, Oct.13, Nov.3, Nov.24, Dec.23
-----In addition, Jan.2, 3, Dec.29, 30, 31, every Saturday
-----and Sunday, Japan Patent Office is closed.
-----In turn, on every Saturday, Ninopat is open.
(5) Search Japanese Patents
-----Free charge server----- Japan Patent Office
(6) Headline News of Japan
New Designs of Japanese Bills from Nov. 2004
____________New YEN 1,000- from November 1, 2004 ________
____________New YEN 5,000- from November 1, 2004 ________
____________New YEN 10,000- from November 1, 2004 ________
Important change effective January 1, 2004
(1) Official fee change as of April 1, 2004
Filing fee down, Maintenance fee down, Examination fee up. Some of examination fee refunded.
(2) Opposition trial system is merged in Invalidation trial system as of Jan. 1 2004.
Important change effective September 1, 2002
For entering into Japan phase, Japanese application sheet should be submitted to
the Japan Patent Office within 30 months from the priority date (or national filing date).
A Japanese translation can be filed within two months from the entering date into Japan.
Important change effective January 1, 2002
Trademark International Classification: Class 42 were divided into 42-45 classes.
New class 42: Examination, Inspection, Study, Computer program design and operation, investigation
New class 43: Hotel, Supply of Hoods and drinks, Rental goods
New class 44: Medical, Dental, Therapy, Gardening
New class 45: Wedding, Funeral, Guard, Detective
Important change effective October 1, 2001
The term for Demand for Examination has been revised from seven years to three years.
To the PCT application having the international filing date before October 1, 2001, seven years
term is still applied.
Documents needed to obtain Japanese patent
(1) Specification, claims, abstract and drawings
(2) Registered name, address and nationality of the applicant
(3) Name and address of the inventor
(4) Certificate of convention priority --- optional
(5) Power of Attorney --- only in special case
(6) Power of Attorney --- PDF file 7 kb
Documents needed to obtain Japanese trademark
(1) Style of the trademark
(2) List of designated goods or services
(3) Registered name, address and nationality of the applicant
(4) Certificate of convention priority --- optional
(5) Power of Attorney --- only in special case
(6) Power of Attorney --- PDF file 7 kb
How to transfer a pending Japanese patent application
(1) Assignment signed by the Assignor --- PDF file 6 kb
(2) Power of Attorney signed by the Assignee --- PDF file 7 kb
How to transfer a Japanese registered patent
(1) Assignment signed by the Assignor --- PDF file 6 kb
(2) Power of Attorney signed by the Assignee --- PDF file 7 kb
Demand for examination rule in Japanese patent law
If a demand (request) for examination is not made within three years from the date
of Japanese application, it is regarded as having been withdrawn.
Novelty exception rule in Japanese patent law
If an invention is disclosed in a publication or presented in written documents
in a scientific meeting, in the US, Korea or other countries, the inventor should
file Japanese patent application within six months from the disclosure date (see
Article 30 of Japanese Patent Law). Note that this six months rule is shorter than
the one year rule of the US which still keeps first-to-invent system in which the
first inventor can obtain a patent rather than the first applicant.
How to file PCT application into Japan phase
For entering into Japan phase, it is necessary to submit a Japanese application sheet and
official filing fee with the Japan Patent Office within 30 months from the priority date.
A Japanese translation can be filed within two months from the application date.
Although KOREA revised the patent law to extend 30 months to 31 months as of March 3, 2006,
The Japan Patent Office still keeps 30 months. Extension is not allowed.
Following documents and information are needed.
(1) PCT application number
(2) Copy of amendment under Article 19 or 34 --- optional
(3) Power of Attorney --- only in special case
(4) Power of Attorney --- PDF file 7 kb
How to respond to Madrid Protocol refusal in Japan
If you receive a PROVISIONAL REFUSAL from the Japan Patent Office relating to
Madrid Protocol trademark application, you can file an amendment through a Japanese
patent attorney within three months. We are handling such procedures.
The attorney's cost would be about US$420-.
Following documents and information are needed.
(1) International registration Number
(2) Copy of the REFUSAL from the Japan Patent Office
(3) Power of Attorney
(4) Power of Attorney --- PDF file 7 kb
If the Japan Patent Office accepts the amendment of the listed goods, a DECISION TO GRANT
will be issued.
After the DECISION, the applicant should pay Japan-part official registration fee, YEN 66,000-
per one class, to the WIPO office within three months from the receipt of the NOTIFICATION
OF SECOND PART OF INDIVIDUAL FEE.
Cost for filing an application in Japan
(1) Patent application, PCT application into Japan
The cost depends upon the volume of the specification and optional services.
If the specification, claims and abstract comprise 3,000 words, rough estimate
of minimum cost would be US$2,500-. If they comprise 6,000 words, the estimate
would be about US$3,500-.
(2) Trademark application
The cost depends upon the number of class of the designated goods. If single
class is designated, rough estimate of minimum cost would be US$960-.
Fee schedule of minimum charges
Outline of Japanese Utility Model
As of 1994, Japanese Utility Model adopted no examination, early registration
system. An applicant has to submit a specification, claims, abstract and drawings
together with three years annuity. Then the application will be automatically
registered as a Utility Model and published. The term of Utility Model right is
six years from the application date. The application cost would be ten percent
higher than that of the above-mentioned patent application.
Outline of Japanese Design Patent
As of January 1, 1999, Japanese Design Law was revised in following points.
Shadings is allowed. Perspective two drawings are sufficient.
Partial design is allowed.
The cost for filing a design patent would be about US $ 1,000 to 1,400.
Power of Attorney is not required except for a special case.
Recent important Cases handled by Ninopat
US Patent Interference No. 103,165
---Final Decision, Sep. 21, 1995
---Re: US Patent No. 4,913,119
---Japanese inventor was recognized to be the true inventor
US Patent No. 6,904,894 / Pulsation Reducing system for fuel line
USP No. 6,901,913 / Fuel Pressure Suppressing System
USP No. 6,470,859 / Fuel Delivery Rail Assembly
USP No. 6,349,552 / Temperature control device
USP No. 5,226,783 / Axial Flow Fan with centrifugal elements
USP No. 5,240,373 / Fan with a resistant plate
USP No. 5,199,539 / Fluid coupling having a vane pump system
USP No. 5,181,554 / Radiator Cooling Apparatus for an automobile engine
USP No. 5,090,611 / Method of making a cross joint between pipes
USP No. 4,930,457 / Temperature-operated Fluid Friction Coupling
USP No. 4,913,119 / Fuel Delivery Rail Assembly
USP No. 4,893,698 / Exhaust Brake Unit equipped with swing flap valves
USP No. 4,890,633 / Treating Apparatus equipped with a swing mechanism
USP No. 4,827,993 / Automatic carrying and metering system for reservoir
USP No. 4,800,611 / Plate Cleaning Apparatus
USP No. 4,799,284 / Plate Cleaning Roller
USP No. 4,585,148 / Process and Apparatus for metering liquid colorant
USP No. 4,545,540 / Apparatus for storing mercury-containing products
European Patent No. 0 406 667 issued January 11, 1995
---United Kingdom, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden
---Title: Forming Method of patterned coating
European Patent No. 0 367 079 issued October 20, 1993
---UK, Germany, France ---Title: Fan Shroud for Radiator
UK Patent No. GB 2388649 issued 2005
UKP No. GB 2346931 issued 2003
UKP No. GB 2248090 issued 1994
UKP No. GB 2244761 issued 1994
UKP No. GB 2239900 issued 1994
German Patent No. P 4135292 issued 2002
German Patent No. P 4113564 issued 1999
German Patent No. P 3843709 issued 1998
French Patent No. 2532564 issued 1990
Australian Patent No. 631435 issued 1992
China Patent No.3121220.4 issued 2007
Taiwan Patent No.174157 issued 2003
Korean Patent No.678874 issued 2007
Korean Patent No.222154 issued 1999
Korean Patent No.214796 issued 1999
Korean UM No.102984 issued 1997
Korean UM No. 98400 issued 1996
Articles written by Masataka NINOMIYA (Mr.)
Several tips for fascilitating PC patent applications
---"Patent" vol.51, No.6, Jun. 1998
A Real Competition in a U.S. Patent Interference
---"Patent" vol.49, No.6, Jun. 1996
Reading Patent CD-ROM by means of a personal computer
---"Patent" vol.46, No.9, Sep. 1993
Analysis on JIS Floppy of Electronic Application
---"Patent" vol.45, No.1, Jan. 1992
Domestic Application arranged for PCT route application
---"Tokkyo Kanri Manual" Oct. 1988
Procedures for Preferential Examination of Patent Applications
---"Yuasa and Hara Journal" vol.8, No.3, Autumn 1981
Patentability of Inventions applied to the Human Body
---"Patents & Licensing" vol.10, No.3, Jun. 1980
Interview with a Japanese Patent Examiner
---"Yuasa and Hara Patent News" vol.6, No.3, Autumn 1979
Old Designs of Japanese Bills
New YEN 1,000- from November 1, 2004 (See above)
New YEN 5,000- from November 1, 2004 (See above)
New YEN 10,000- from November 1, 2004 (See above)
____________YEN 10,000-___________ ___________YEN 5,000-________
____________YEN 1,000-___________ ___________YEN 2,000-________
Personal History of Masataka NINOMIYA (Mr.)
Jump to Personal History page
Airmail address to Ninomiya Patent Office:
Kyodo Building, 6-12, Kayabacho 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo,
103-0025 JAPAN ----- FAX: 81-3-3639-5619
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