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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).
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(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 in the JPO office building.
Moreover, the portal site for consultation and support on intellectual property is available available at:
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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 2021 that came into effect on January 1, 2021.
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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 Classification Vienna Classification (5th edition) based on the actual situation in Japan, and has utilized it as search keys of Figure trademark search system.
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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 the 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.
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The following types of data is are currently provided to commercial providers in Japan by bulk download service on the J-PlatPat.
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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 Preceding 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.
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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/REGISTRAION, on appeals, etc.) agreed at TM5 are posted on the J-PlatPat. Alert Service (RSS distribution) to notify of the status information update of designated applications is also available.
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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 works 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.
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The INPIT compiles an instruction brochure/manual for how to operate and utilize various search services provided by the J-PlatPat.
URL: https://www.inpit.go.jp/j-platpat_info/reference/index.html
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Useful information on e-filing including how to fill out application forms and FAQs is provided at the “E-filing software support website”.
URL: http://www.pcinfo.jpo.go.jp/site/
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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.
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