...
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 May 2019, reduced the time lug 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.
...
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
...
In January 2005, the JPO started using the revised Japanese Design Classification in order to cope with the new conception of articles etc. such as the information and communication devices. The revised Japanese Design Classification mainly uses the concept of the usage in the same way as the former Japanese Design Classification, which is comprised of a 3-stage classification; group, main class, and minor class, and consists of about 3,200 classification branches in total. Also, the JPO provides about 1,800 branches of D-terms, which are search keys to further subdivide the Japanese Design Classification mainly based on the forms of articles.
In addition, in April 2007, the JPO started using the revised Japanese Design Classification that was amended again in order to cope with design protection of graphic image designs. After this amendment another classification stage for graphic image design was added below the aforementioned minor class and broke it down from a viewpoint of intended use in April 2016. Furthermore, in April 2020, a new classification branch for graphic image design was created, which are subdivided mainly from a viewpoint of forms.
...
In addition, the following information is provided.
a) A Cross-reference table between the Locarno Classification and the Japanese Design Classification (a concordance data)
For effective usage of the Japanese Design Gazettes as examination materials in foreign countries, the JPO established a cross-reference table between the Locarno Classification and the Japanese Design Classification (a concordance data). The JPO lists the Locarno International Classification in the gazettes in addition to the Japanese Design Classification.
...
The following is the URL of the Publication of Registered Design provided through the Internet. URL: https://www.publication.jpo.go.jp/
The Design Gazette enables a search using 13 keys as search keys, including registration number, indication of articles (goods), Japanese Design Classification and D-term. The Published Registered Design Applications contains contain a mixed-mode type data, composed of text data and image data, thus text search using text data is available.
...
a-2) 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 addition, all functions are also available in English.
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.
(URL) https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/
a-3) FOPISER
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 through data exchange with foreign IP Offices. Design documents of Russia, Taiwan, EUIPO, Vietnam and Thailand which are not available on the J-PlatPat, are available for retrieval of document numbers using a 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) 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.
c) Reference to design gazettes, etc
The INPIT has 7 access devices which is 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.
...
e) Search support tool for Image Design Gazettes (Graphic Image Park)
INPIT started providing “Search support tool for Image Design Gazettes (Graphic Image Park)” using Image Matching technology in October 2015. Graphic Image Park is a tool which enables users to search image designs registered as Design in Japan by just entering image files.
...
Legal status information of applications filed in 1964 onwards can be searched on the J-PlatPat by using document numbers such as application numbers and registration numbers, etc. In addition, Alert Service to notify of the status information update of designated applications is also available.
...
In January 2000, a paperless system for design was launched and the administrative and examination procedures were completely moved to a system based on electronic data. Therefore, a total system, covering every procedure from design application filing, formality check and substantive examination, dispatching, registration, publishing the gazette, requesting inspection of files, to requesting certification, was realized. The effect of this system is far reaching, such as more efficient drafting based on the close link between the administrative system and the design search system, more efficient examination by implementation of electronic approval, faster design gazette publication and the separate management of each application.
With the realization of the above system, the JPO started receiving online applications for designs. Since the introduction of the system, the online filing rate has been consistently high reaching 93.2% in 2019.
...
a) Design search system
This is a client server-type online system for retrieving application documentary materials and publicly known documentary materials (including foreign design gazettes) by using the Japanese Design Classification and D-terms (search keys that subdivide the Japanese Design Classification), indication of articles (goods), applicant identifying numbers, etc. as search keys. The image data of the document retrieved is sent from the image file server and displayed (color image data is displayed in color) onto the screen of a terminal, for enabling high-speed screening. For an efficient document search, a function is provided to display the design classifications and applicant identifying numbers etc. by the frequency of them coming up as cited references based on past examination results.
As bibliographic data of filed applications for searches, application numbers, filing date, registration numbers, registration date, indication of articles (goods), Japanese Design Classification, D-terms, the International Classification of Industrial Design (Locarno Classification) and others are used. As bibliographic data of other documents for searches, disclosure dates, acceptance dates, publishing date, indication of articles (goods), Japanese design classifications, D-terms and others are used. The data is stored in a database according to the type of materials.
...
a) File building
The JPO has stored in search files the image data (including color image data) and the bibliographic data (including the Japanese Design Classification and D-term) of designs presented in the following: magazines published in Japan and abroad, catalogs, websites, foreign design gazettes and elsewhere. These are used as the base data for the JPO’s design examination.
On January 1, 2000, the JPO started accepting design registration applications on-line. Accordingly, information on designs of which the registration has been applied for is automatically put into the search files. By the end of 2019, the search files accumulated the image data and bibliographic data of about 2.607 million application material materials and about 8.13 million publicly-known designs.
...
a) J-PlatPat training seminars
Training seminars of the J-PlatPat were held by the INPIT for beginners of industrial property right search from individuals and SMEs (25 times in 16 major cities nationwide in FY2019).
The organization also held information sessions of the J-PlatPat by request from universities and enterprises enterprises (2 times in FY2019).
b) Search expert training seminars
The INPIT held the following trainings.
・Training seminar for Search Experts (Industrial Design)
This training seminar is for those who have sufficient knowledge in the Design Act. The seminar aims at developing human resources, who are capable of effectively protecting product designs by industrial design rights and are properly figuring out scopes of rights after acquisition of rights, by further improving the ability to conduct a design search and a prior design search. (once)
...
a) Sending Official Gazette on CD-ROM to overseas
In 2015, the JPO exchanged official gazettes, etc. with 56 organizations (including international organizations) in 53 nations, out of which it sent information on CD-ROM Published Registered Design Applications to 23 organizations.
The JPO discontinued sending official gazettes on CD-ROM overseas in March 2015 and is currently providing the data on lineonline.
(2) Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information
...
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 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.
...