Overview of the JPO and

Initiatives to Support Growing Technology/Innovation

November 7, 2019Japan Patent Office

Outline of the Presentation

1

1. Organization of the JPO2. Trends in of Applications/Examinations (Patents/Trademarks)3. JPO’s Initiatives to Support Growing Technology/Innovation Accelerated Examination System

(Support for Financing) System for Fee Reduction

(Support for Funding) IP Acceleration Program for Startups

(Support for Business Management) Regional Collective Trademark System

(Support for Branding)

2

Changes in Number of JPO Staff

The total number of staff at the JPO are 2,792: 1,682 patent examiners (60%), 140 trademark examiners (5%) and 48 design examiners (2%).

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

定員

[人]

事務系職員 特実審査官 特実審査官（恒常） 商標審査官

意匠審査官 審判官 総定員 総定員（恒常）

General office workers

Trademark ExaminersDesign Examiners

Total Number(excluding fixed-term

examiners)

Administrative Judges

Patent/UM Examiners

Total Number

Regular Examiners

Fixed Term Examiners

2,792

2,291

539

1,181

38314048

1,682

（人）

General office workers

Total Number

Patent/UM examiners

Design examiners

Total Number(Regular staff)

Regular Patent/ UM examiners

Administrative Judges

(No. of persons)

Total Num

ber of Staff

Trademark examiners

Graph1

19981998199819981998199819982000

19991999199919991999199919992001

20002000200020002000200020002002

20012001200120012001200120012003

20022002200220022002200220022004

20032003200320032003200320032005

20042004200420042004200420042006

20052005200520052005200520052007

20062006200620062006200620062008

20072007200720072007200720072009

20082008200820082008200820082010

20092009200920092009200920092011

20102010201020102010201020102012

20112011201120112011201120112013

20122012201220122012201220122014

20132013201320132013201320132015

20142014201420142014201420142016

20152015201520152015201520152017

20162016201620162016201620162018

20172017201720172017201720172019

2018201820182018201820182018

2019201920192019201920192019

事務系職員

特実審査官

特実審査官（恒常）

商標審査官

意匠審査官

審判官

総定員

総定員（恒常）

定員　[人]

884

1078

1078

137

49

383

2531

2524

871

1083

1083

140

51

389

2534

2469

852

1088

1088

142

51

391

2524

2470

783

1096

1096

146

51

393

2469

2479

771

1105

1105

148

51

395

2470

2457

758

1126

1126

148

51

396

2479

2456

721

1243

1145

148

51

392

2555

2422

705

1358

1162

149

51

389

2652

2408

662

1468

1174

149

51

386

2716

2411

646

1567

1175

149

52

386

2800

2414

633

1680

1190

150

52

386

2901

2413

623

1692

1202

150

52

387

2904

2405

612

1703

1213

149

52

387

2903

2390

598

1711

1221

148

51

387

2895

2362

582

1713

1223

147

51

387

2880

2345

567

1701

1211

146

51

387

2852

2327

557

1702

1210

142

49

387

2837

2308

546

1702

1208

138

48

387

2821

2289

534

1702

1206

137

48

383

2804

2279

525

1696

1197

136

48

383

2788

2291

523

1690

1189

136

48

383

2780

539

1682

1181

140

48

383

2792

定員推移

19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019

事務系 ジムケイ901884871852783771758721705662646633623612598582567557546534525523539

特実審査官 トクジツシンサカン10701078108310881096110511261243135814681567168016921703171117131701170217021702169616901682

特実審査官（恒常） トクジツシンサカンコウジョウ10701078108310881096110511261145116211741175119012021213122112231211121012081206119711891181

特実審査官（任期付） トクジツシンサカンニンキツキ000000098196294392490490490490490490492494496499501501

商標審査官 ショウヒョウシンサカン134137140142146148148148149149149150150149148147146142138137136136140

意匠審査官 イショウシンサカン4749515151515151515152525252515151494848484848

審判官 シンパンカン377383389391393395396392389386386386387387387387387387387383383383383

審査官計 シンサカンケイ16281647166316721686169917211834194720542154226822812291229722982285228022752270226322572253

総定員 ソウテイイン25292531253425242469247024792555265227162800290129042903289528802852283728212804278827802792

総定員（恒常） ソウテイインコウジョウ25292531253425242469247024792457245624222408241124142413240523902362234523272308228922792291

* Percentage of Examination Requests = No. of Examination Requests/No. of Patent Applications

34.5 34.3 34.3 32.8 32.6 31.9 31.8 31.8 31.4

67.8% 67.9% 69.4%71.2% 71.8% 71.8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

特許出願件数 審査請求率(万件)

(出願年)

25.5 25.4 24.5 24.0 24.6 24.1 24.0 24.0 23.4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30(万件)

3.2

3.8

4.3 4.3 4.1

4.3 4.4

4.7 4.9

0

1

2

3

4

5(万件)

(出願年)

No. of Patent App./Percentage of Examination Requests

3

Changes in Number of Patent Applications The numbers of patent applications and requests for examination were

gradually decreasing. The number of patent applications filed overseas by Japanese companies

is increasing.

No. of Patent App.

Percentage of Examination Requests (10 thou. app.) (10 thou. app.)

(Filing Year) (Year request was made.) (Filing year)

No. of PCT Applications

(10 thou. app.)

No. of Examination Requests

4

Longer Examination Period and Initiatives for Improvement

In 2003 IP Strategic Program, the JPO set a goal to shorten First Action (FA) pendency to 11 months by the end of March 2014; and achieved this goal by implementing the following initiatives: (i) Hiring 500 Fixed-term examiners; (ii) More outsourcing of prior art searches; (iii) Shifting users’ filing strategy from quantity to quality; and(iv) Improving IT systems for examination.

25.7 26.1 25.6 25.727.2 29.2 29.1 28.4

24.6

18.6

12.69.3 9.7 9.4 9.3 9.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35一次審査通知までの平均期間

(Months)

- Significantly shortened FA pendencyin 10 years from 2003

- Achieved the goal of 11 months (FA11)at the end of March 2014

Average FA Pendency

103,978 111,770 131,299

148,024 173,611 166,681

13,696 12,672

15,984 13,835

17,328 17,802

117,674 124,442 147,283

161,859

190,939 184,483

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

（件）

（年）

商標登録出願（国際商標登録出願以外）

国際商標登録出願

5

Increase in TM Applications and Examination Period

Changes in Number of Trademark Applications Filed at the JPO

Changes in FA Pendency and Total Pendency on Average for Trademark Examinations

The number of trademark applications in 2018 was around 184,000, which is about 1.6 times higher compared to 2013.

The FA pendency and the total pendency (TP) (to grant rights) have become longer affected by the increased number of applications in recent years.

To shorten the FA pendency to 7 to 9 months on average. To shorten the Total pendency to 8 to 10 months on average.

The JPO will implement appropriate measures not to lead to longer examination periods due to further increase in applications.

Goals to Be Achieved by the JPO in FY 2019 (Examination Period)

(Year)

6.0 5.86.8

7.79.3

4.1 4.34.9

6.3

7.9

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

TP期間FA期間

（年度）(FY)

Total Pendency

FA Pendency

International TM Applications

TM Applications (excluding International TM Applications)

(Applications)

Outline of the Presentation

6

1. Organization of the JPO2. Trends in Applications/Examinations (Patents/Trademarks)3. JPO’s Initiatives to Support Growing Technology/Innovation Accelerated Examination System

(Support for Financing) System for Fee Reduction

(Support for Funding) IP Acceleration Program for Startups

(Support for Business Management) Regional Collective Trademark System

(Support for Branding)

System for Early Acquisition of Patent Rights

7

First Action

Around 9 – 11 months

Approx.2.3 months (FA period)

Examination Request

Approx. 0.7 months (FA period)

First Action

First Action

Request Accelerated Examination

Accelerated examinations are conducted for applications filed for actually used inventions and filed by SMEs, etc.

The FA pendency is shortened to 2.3 months on average by using the Accelerated Examination System.

Further, the FA pendency is shortened to 0.7 months on average by using the Super Accelerated Examination System.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Results (2018) 21,137 cases

Results (2018) 685 cases

Super-Accelerated Examination

8

Super Accelerated Examination for Startups

Startups at the early state of business will raise operating capital for 13 to 16 months byfinancing at one time. When startups cannot meet their milestone (business goal) duringthat period, they will go out of business.

* Startups: SMEs that weren’t established 10 or more years before.

Super Accelerated Examinations for Startups were launched on July 9, 2018.

Requirements for Super Accelerated Examinations for Startups aresimplified than regular Super Accelerated Examinations.

Financing Schedule of Newly Founded Startups

About 13 – 18 monthsFor the case of 13 months

Capital

Raising

Capital

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Super Accelerated Examination

NormalExamination FA

Requestfor

Examination FA

Patent Granted

Patent Granted

0.7months

2.5months

9.3months

14.1months

Raising

Capital

Filed trademarks are either already in use or prepared to be used to a considerable extent on certain designated goods/services

There is urgent need to acquire rightsi) Third parties are using filed TMii) Third parties have issued a warningiii) There is a request to license the TMiv) Family applications are filed overseas

Eligible Case 1

Filed trademarks are either already in use or prepared to be used to a considerable extent on all designated goods/services For use on only goods/services listed in the Examination

Guidelines for Similar Goods and Services, etc.

Filed trademarks are:either already in use or prepared to be used to a considerable extent on certain designated goods/services

Eligible Case 2 Eligible Case 3 * Added in 2017

Changes in No. of Requests for Accelerated Examination

No. of Requests by Industry in 2018

(Applications) Percentage of Approved Cases by Type of Cases

in 2018

1,504

5,278

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

H24 H25 H26 H27 H28 H29 H30

677 702 765

960 1,068 1,106

0

300

600

900

1,200

化学 食品 機械 雑貨繊維 産業役務 一般役務

(Applications)

Accelerated Examination for Trademarks

9

The JPO conducts Accelerated Examination for trademark applications for short lifecycle goods/services.

The average FA pendency for Accelerated Examinations in 2018 was 1.7 months. No extra charges.

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Eligible Case 1

19%

Eligible Case 2

17%Eligible Case 347%

Disaster16%

10

Fee Reduction System for Startups

RegularFee

After Reduction

Requirements for Startups (Companies have to meet one of the following requirements) Corporate entities that weren’t established 10 or more years before and whose total amount of paid in capital is JPY300 million or less (Not under control of large companies). Self-employed business that has started doing business less than 10 years ago. Corporate entities or self-employed business with 20 or less employees (Less than 5 or less in commerce or service industry) (Not under control of large companies).

Around USD* 3,800

Around USD 1,200

Around USD 1,900

Around USD 660

Fees for startups are reduced to one third (1/3). From April 2019, there is NO need to submit any certificates.

Examination Fee/ Patent Fee* International Filing Fee

* Patent fees to maintain rights for up to 10 years* The exchange rate used to convert JPY to U.S.$: JPY106

11

Supporting IP Strategies by Startups (IPAS)

The JPO formed a mentoring team consisting of experts. The expert team is sent to startups to:

• Support formulating IP strategies for effective exit strategies (M&A, IPO, etc.); and

• Support acquiring IP rights based on the strategies.

Supporting Formulation of IP Strategies

Alliance/M&AStartups

Growth Stage

Maturity Stage

Conceptual Image of Business

Foundation Stage

Business Preparation

Stage

Startup support consultants

Lawyers/Patent Attorneys with experiences in supporting

startupsVenture capitalists

with experience

Value Evaluation

IPO (Stock offering)

IP Mentoring Team

12

Support for Branding to Revitalize Local Economies

- Business cooperatives- Associations and chambers of commerce and industry- Incorporated NPOs

Word trademarks“Names of regions” +“Names of goods(services)”

The names of regions in trademarks need to have a close relation with the goods (services), such as the fact that these regions are the places of origin of the goods or services.

Trademarks, as a result of their being used by applicants, need to be well known as their trademarks

Entities entitled to register

Components of trademarks

Relation between Regions and Goods/Services Well-knownness

Agricultural Cooperative

“Yonezawa Beef”Trademark Reg. No. 5029824

Business Cooperative

“Yokohama Chinatown”

Trademark Reg. No. 5069264

Specified Non-profit Corporation (NPO)

“Shodoshima Olive Oil”Trademark Reg. No. 5800807

Chamber of Commerce and Industry

“Nakatsu Karaage”Trademark Reg. No. 5817143

Regional Collective Trademarks = Names of Regions + Names of Goods (Services)

Introduced in 2006. To revitalize local economies by protecting regional brands. Number of registrations as of August 1, 2019: 665.

Major Registration Requirements

Regional Collective Trademark System

13

◆ Providing J-PlatPat◆ Support for analyzing and utilizing patent information

◆ Reduction and Exemption of Patent Fees

◆ Consultation on Trade Secret/IP Strategies

◆ Accelerated Examination/Trial Examination

◆ Open Patent Database

◆ IP Business Valuation Report/ IP Business Proposal

◆ Providing IP Information on Emerging Countries, etc.

◆ Subsidiary for Filing Foreign Applications◆ Support for Anti-Counterfeiting Measures◆ Overseas IP Litigation Insurance

◆ Overseas IP Producers◆ IP Support Counters for Expanding Business Abroad

Ideas/R&D Acquisition of IP RightsCommercial production

Overseas Business Expansion

Providing IP Information

Support for Financial Arrangements

Advice by Experts

Circuit JPO Program Circuit interview examinationsAwareness campaigns for the IP system and JPO’s support activities

IP Right Specialists Individual visits to SMEs, etc., in-house training programs, IP seminars

Comprehensive IP Support Counters One-stop service counters for consultation on IP problems

Support on Examination/ Trial Examination

Cross-sectional support

Bird’s-Eye View of Support Initiatives for SMEs

Summary

14

Matters important for startups are:- Prompt grant of rights- Financial support- Support for IP management- Appropriate branding

The JPO is working to revitalize the economy by supporting startups

Going forward, we would like to further promote support activities for startups to stimulate our economy while sharing experiences with each other

15

Thank you!Merci!

スライド番号 1Outline of the Presentationスライド番号 3スライド番号 4スライド番号 5Increase in TM Applications and Examination PeriodOutline of the Presentationスライド番号 8Super Accelerated Examination for Startupsスライド番号 10Fee Reduction System for StartupsSupporting IP Strategies by Startups (IPAS)スライド番号 13スライド番号 14Summaryスライド番号 16