Japanese IP News
NEW
Japanese Patent Information
- U.S. and Japan to Pilot Patent Prosecution Highway
- Notice of Revision of Examination Guidelines for Amendment of Description, Claims and Drawings(2004)
- Change of Official Fee / New System in JAPAN (2004)
- Aruze vs. Sammy
- The Timing of Infringement notice
In May, 2006, the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) announced that they had agreed with the USPTO for the "trial" of the Patent Prosecution Highway. The practice of accelerating the examination already exists in Japan for other causes. In the current practice, the applications are normally examined within three months from the date the request for the acceleration is filed.
The revision to the Japan Patent Office Examination Guidelines changes the scope of allowable amendment in the description, claims or drawings as originally filed. The revised Examination Guidelines are applied to those applications filed on or after January 1, 1994 and examined on or after October 22, 2003. See how Ryuka Intellectual Property Law Firm copes with the new Revision.
On April 1, 2004, the official fees of the Japanese Patent Office changed, while the patent opposition system was unified with the patent invalidation appeal system. See how the changes may affect you.
Significant case indicates a reform of damages in Japan and warns infringers that the courts are adopting a stance of awarding significantly larger damage amounts.
There are critical issues that should be considered by a patent owner in the timing of a notification of infringement of a Japanese Patent. There are two ways of invalidating Japanese patents, namely, opposition for invalidation and appeal for invalidation. Ryuka Patent Firm briefly explains the difference here; contact them to discuss in greater detail the advantages of the options in your specific case.
