...
Concerning the above (i), the JPO started Foreign Patent Information Service (FOPISER) which enables users to retrieve overseas patent information obtained by data exchange with foreign IP offices in Japanese by means of machine translation in August 2015 and the number of the foreign countries which have agreed to provide their patent information is increasing. For details, see 3.(4) a-3).
Concerning the above (v), the J-PlatPat, in in May 2019, reduced the time lug lag of the update for examination and trial status information, and allowed users to search for documents received and prepared in January 2019, and after. Further, since March 2020, the JPO has made functional improvements such as batch download of multiple publication documents in PDF, addition of a narrow-down retrieval search function based on the date of trial decision search, etc.
...
Toward the realization of “the world’s utmost quality service to provide patent information,” in order to discuss how the measures for disseminating and utilizing patent information should be, the subcommittee on dissemination and utilization of patent information consisting of patent information experts was appointed under the Intellectual Property Committee under Industrial Structure Council, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in July 2015. The result of the study was summarized as a report, “Toward further utilization of patent information” in May 2016. Based on the report, activities were promoted.
...
*These applications refer to international applications filed based on the Madrid Protocol which designate the Japan Patent Office. Refer to Article 68-9 of the Trademark Act.
...
(1) Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
a) Paper-based application
The INPIT provides the free consultation service on the procedures for industrial property rights at the Consultation Desk on the second floor of the JPO office building.
Moreover, the portal site for consultation and support on intellectual property is available at:
https://faq.inpit.go.jp/
b) Electronic application
The e-filing software allows users to conduct administrative procedures such as the filing of applications for patents, utility models, industrial designs and trademarks, and PCT-RO international application, appealing for trials and payment of the annual fees, and receipt of documents dispatched from the JPO, on-line. The software may be downloaded for free.
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/process/shutugan/pcinfo/index.html
...
a) On-line reference
The software for electronic application allows users to request or refer to application documents and registers from computers from their home or office, and to make a request for issuing certifications on-line.
See 2. (1) b) for the software for electronic application..
(3) Matters concerning classifying
(i) Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification
(ii) Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied
a) Nice Classification
By adopting internationally common classification (Nice Classification), for the purpose of making it easier to search of domestic and international prior trademarks and to manage trademarks such as the procedure for the registration of a trademark etc., in April 1992, the JPO has adopted the Nice Classification which is an international classification of goods and services as the main classification system. Currently, the JPO adopts the International classification, 11th edition, version 2020 that came into effect on January 1, 2020.
...
In consequence, the JPO started examinaitons examinations based on a subdivided Vienna Classification made by subdividing the Viennal Vienna Classification (5th edition) in the context of the actual situation of Japan.
Specifically, the JPO created a subdivided original Vienna Classification by subdividing the Viennal Vienna Classification (5th edition) based on the actual situation in Japan, and has utilized it as search keys of Figure trademark search system.
...
In order to support various brand strategies of enterprises, the JPO added five types of non-traditional trademark, “Motion marks,” “Hologram marks,” “Sound marks,” “Color marks”and marks” and “Position marks” into subject matter for protection in Japanese Trademark Law and has accepted their applications since April 1, 2015. Search for trademarks by type is available on the J-PlatPat.
...
Concerning the following points, the examiners of the JPO use the databases for searches. These are all available online through the terminal set up in the JPO.
a) Data of classified telephone directory
A database capable of searching for names, addresses, telephone numbers, types of businesses etc. of companies and self employments.
b) Newspaper/Magazine article information
A database capable of searching for entire texts of general newspapers, trade papers, and specialty journals.
c) Foreign application/registration information database
A database capable of searching for foreign application/registration information.
(4) Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
...
a-2) Japan Platform for Patent Information(J-PlatPat)
The JPO started to provide the Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) service through the Internet in March 1999. This service has enabled users to search patent information by using document numbers and classifications as search keys. This service was transferred to the INPIT as of October 2004, and has been operated by the INPIT since then.
In order to meet advancing and diversifying user needs for patent information, the INPIT renovated the IPDL and started providing the J-PlatPat in March 2015, a new service to provide patent information via user-friendly interface. The J-PlatPat currently stores about 130 million cases of patent information and can be searched by document numbers, various classifications, keywords, etc. In addition, all functions are also available in English.
...
In August 2015, the JPO launched the FOPISER a search service to promptly provide the general users with patent information obtained from foreign IP Offices by data exchange between foreign IP Offices. Trademark documents of Russia, Taiwan, the European Union of Intellectual Property Office (the EUIPO), Vietnam, and Thailand, which are not available for a search on the J-PlatPat, are available for simplified search by using document numbers and English key words via Japanese user interface.
b) Providing JPO data
The following types of data is are currently provided to commercial providers in Japan by bulk download service on the J-PlatPat.
b-1) New Standardized Data
This data is the JPO’s bibliographical and status information converted and processed into TSV format for better usability for external users. The data has been provided since May 2019.
b-2) Preceeding Standardized data
This data is the JPO’s bibliographical and status information converted and processed into XML format, etc. for better usability for external users. As of August 2020, the data up to September 2019 has been provided.
c) Reference to trademark gazettes, etc.
The INPIT has 7 access devices which are available in the Official gazettes reading room on the second floor of the JPO office building. This allows free public access to the J-PlatPat Service, gazettes on CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, etc.
d) Reference to examination and trial documents
The INPIT is collecting various technical documents (books, etc.), which are used in the examinations and trials by the JPO, widely from inside and outside of Japan and making them available to the public.
...
A service is provided that legal status information of applications registered in the past and filed in 2000 onwards can be searched on the J-PlatPat by using document numbers such as application numbers and registration numbers. In addition, easy-to-understand icons (TM5 Common Status Descriptors) of trademaek trademark status (LIVE or DEAD/REGISTRAIONREGISTRATION, on appeals, etc.) agreed at TM5 are posted on the J-PlatPat. Alert Service to notify of the status information update of designated applications is also available.
...
A paperless trademark system has been available since January 2000. Systems for administrative work and examination processingbased processing based on electronic data wereconstructedwere constructed, and all work including filing, formality and substantive examination, dispatch, registration, gazette issuing, viewing, and certification request are processed electronically. Thus a remarkable improvement has been achieved in terms of operational efficiency, substantiating application and case management and so forth.
Furthermore, with the implementation of the real-time trademark search function, and a trademark examination scheme that actively takes advantage of data in electric form, resulting in the downsizing of the trademark search system, cost efficiency has been also improved. Of all the trademark applications filed in 2019, 83.8% was via online. On the other hand, on joining the Madrid Agreement and the Protocol, a Madrid Protocol system was developed, and put into operation in March 2000.
In addition, an examination system for the examination of international trademark registration application was constructed, and an electronic transmission system to the International Bureau was introduced in April 2005.
...
a) On-line trademark search system
The JPO has been electronically storing trademark applications and examination-related documents for trademark examination. At the end of July 2020, trademark-related data for about 5,890,000 documents were accumulated.
Trademark search system comprises of phonetic search, character string search, well-known/famous trademarks search and classified telephone directory search.
In order to protect famous trademarks, a well-known/famous trademark database was constructed and the search system thereof was put into operation in March 2001.
...
d) Check table search system for indications of goods/services
With regard to the indications of designated goods and designated services, those adopted by the JPO in the past which were judged to be clear are accumulated in this system in addition to indications listed in the international classification tables and the Examination Guidelines for Similar Goods and Services. This database is used to check classifications of goods and services listed in filing documents and to present appropriate indications.
...
Based on an international cooperative framework, the JPO and the WIPO started the data exchange of official gazettes including “Published Registered Trademarks” in November 2014, expanded the range of data exchanges in 2016, and are continuing it as far as international provision of the JPO’s electronic information is concerned. In addition, the Office also exchanges the data with Russia, Taiwan, the EUIPO, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.
...
a-2) Digitization support
In FY2019, the digitization project was implemented in Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, Eswatini (former Swaziland), Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia and OAPI, the Regional IP Office for Africa. The Philippines project was completed.
a-3) IT Personnel Development Workshop
In August 2019, a workshop for African countries for OAPI and ARIPO member members and other countries was held in Tanzania. The online tools and services provided by WIPO were introduced, and explanations and discussions were also carried out on the preconditions that the IP offices should consider in advance to realize the digitization of IP offices' operation using these tools and services. In October, a workshop for 10 ASEAN countries was held in Vietnam and the development status and specific functions of IT systems provided by WIPO such as the ASEAN Patentscope and WIPO-IPAS were introduced for the purpose of promoting the implementation and functional improvement of IT systems in each IP office. Furthermore, as part of the support for the establishment of the Myanmar Intellectual Property Office, workshops for introducing online services were held three times in total, and experiences of the implementation of IT systems in the IP offices of neighboring countries were shared with the Myanmar side.
...