Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2018 submitted by Japan
I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PATENT INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of patent information activities and expected time frames for their realization
The outline of main policies and plans of patent information activities have officially been announced in the following report.
“Toward further utilization of patent information” Report, submitted by the subcommittee on dissemination and utilization of patent information consisting of patent information experts, appointed under the Intellectual Property Committee under Industrial Structure Council, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, in May 2016
The future direction of the official patent information provision service operated by the JPO and the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) has been summarized as below.
The JPO and the INPIT should continuously improve the infrastructure of patent information provision service to broadly disseminate the patent information with the efforts to provide the world’s utmost quality service for the users in Japan with full considerations of the trends of globalization, advancement of IT, approaches to the related services by foreign IP offices and private business operators, and requests from users in Japan including small and medium-sized companies and individuals.
The following policies are mentioned in the report with the said fundamental concept.
(i) Improving accessibility to foreign patent documents by using machine translation to Japanese.
(ii) Provision of One Portal Dossier (OPD) service, which is to offer overseas dossier information collectively.
(iii) Improving accessibility to unified database, which is internal and external to the JPO, through basic functions.
(iv) Provision of the service to share Japan’s world’s fastest and utmost quality examination results.
(v) External provision of substantive examinations/ appeal examinations related information regarding Design and Trademark.
New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
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 accordingly. For details, see 3. (4)a-4).
Concerning the above (ii), the JPO started service to integrally provide documents (dossier information) concerning domestic and overseas patent application/examination from July 2016 on the Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat). For more information about this, see (2)a)-(ii)．
Concerning the above (iii), since March 2018, search functions of the Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat) were harmonized with those of the existing patent examination systems and its database functions have been significantly enhanced. Due to this, combination search by patent classifications and key words, proximity search, text search in English for patent gazettes overseas were added, and expanded range of target periods for text search of domestic publications and expanded upper limit on the number of indicated search results were realized. In May 2019, some functions were improved such as an improvement in the time lag of the update for examination and trial status information, and an expansion of the provided document coverage and search subjects, etc.
Main areas of patent information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
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.
Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
(1) Patent
In 2018, the number of applications was 313,567 (down 1.5% from the previous year) and the number of registrations was 194,525 (down 2.5% from the previous year).
(2) Utility model
In 2018, the number of applications was 5,388 (down 11.8% from the previous year) and the number of registrations was 5,303 (down 12.0% from the previous year).
In 2017, the number of patent applications in the following technical fields recorded significant increase from the previous year.
“B25 HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS; WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT; MANIPULATORS” (up 23.6% from the previous year)
“B63 SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT” (up 18.3% from the previous year)
Also, in 2017, the number of patent applications in the following technical fields recorded significant decrease from the previous year.
“C10 PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT” (down 13.8% from the previous year)
“G21 NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING” (down 12.1% from the previous year)
Note: IPC classes with 500 or more applications in 2017 were examined.
Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
(Annual Report in Japanese) https://www.jpo.go.jp/resources/report/nenji/index.html
(Status Report in Japanese and English) https://www.jpo.go.jp/resources/report/statusreport/index.html
II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
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 Official Gazettes Reading Room/Consultation Department on the second floor of the JPO office building. Moreover, the portal site for consultation and support on intellectual property is available on a 24-hour basis 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 at:
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/process/shutugan/pcinfo/index.html.
Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
a) Search for Examination Document Information, One Portal Dossier
a-1) Search for Examination Document Information
J-PlatPat allows users to search various domestic examination documents such as notifications of reasons for refusal, written opinions and written amendments issued in July 2003 onwards by specifying document numbers such as application number and publication number. It is possible to search for patent examination related documents issued from December 1990 and trial documents from January 2000.
a-2) Search for One Portal Dossier
Since July 2016, users have been able to integrally search for Dossier Information (information relating application/examination of the patent family) using the J-PlatPat by specifying document numbers of the corresponding countries including JPO patent application numbers. In March 2017, the JPO started providing enriched citation (information such as categories and quotations at the time of citation by an examiner) in One Portal Dossier provided by J-PlatPat. As of December 2018, Dossier Information has expanded with the information from the Offices of Australia, Canada, India and WIPO (PCT International Application) from its initial information from IP5 Offices.
b) 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.
Classification1, preclassification2 (if applicable), reclassification3 activities; classification systems used (e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC)); matters concerning indexing of patent information
In 2018, as the patent documents that were assigned FI and IPC, the JPO issued about 210,000 for publication of patent application, about 40,000 for publication of Japanese translation of PCT international application, about 20,000 for re-publication of PCT international publication, about 190,000 for publication of Patent, and about 5,000 for publication of registered utility model. Further, the JPO sent their delegates to IPC-related WIPO meetings, along with participating in the activities for the revision of the IPC.
Abstracting, reviewing, and translation of the information contained in patent documents
a) Reviewing of the abstract
Although the abstract is prepared by the applicant, the JPO reviews whether the content of the abstract is appropriate, and if it is found inappropriate, the abstract is modified by the office ex officio so as to be able to get the picture of the invention or utility model quickly and accurately only from the abstract.
b) Translation
1) English Abstracts of Publication of Unexamined Patent Application in Japan (PAJ)
PAJ consists of abstracts and typical drawings of published unexamined patent applications. The PAJ is currently sent to 67 foreign patent offices and public institutions. In addition, the J-PlatPat provides the services for retrieving the PAJ through text searching. The PAJ is also provided to commercial patent information providers in Japan for free via the bulk download service in the J-PlatPat.
2) Foreign patent documents
See 5. (3).
Other activities
Nothing in particular
III. SOURCES OF PATENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
Main types of publications of the Office (patent applications, full text, first pages, abstracts, bibliographic data, granted patents, etc.), medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
The JPO published the following official gazettes via the Internet in 2018:
- Publication of Patent Application
- Publication of Japanese Translation of PCT International Application
- Publication of Registered Utility Model
- Publication of Patent
- Publication of Decision on Appeal/Trial in Patent
The following is the URL of published gazettes provided through the Internet.
URL: https://www.publication.jpo.go.jp/
The Patent and Utility Model Gazettes contains mixed-mode type data, composed of text data and image data, thus text search using text data is also available.
Further, Published Unexamined Patent Applications enable a search using document numbers, IPC, etc.
Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
Nothing in particular
Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external collections and databases
a) Off-line
LiqCryst, CODE V
b) External databases
Nature.com, JDream III, STN, Science Direct, IEEE Xplore, Derwent Innovation, ACM DL, Internet Phama Business, INTERGLAD, Science, Scopus, NIKKEI Telecom, Scitation, I-Chu-Shi WEB, APS Journals, SpringerLink, JJAP, Colour Index, Chemical Documents Library, CiNii, ACS Publications, GeneCards, Medical On-line, Wiley On-line Library, Annual Reviews, Oxford Journals, Journal of Technical Disclosure WEB, OSA Publishing, Merck Index, J-STAGE, RSC Publishing, Electrochemical Society (ECS Digital Library), AACR Publications, SPIE Digital Library, Mintel GNPD, Japio-GPG/FX, CHEMnetBASE
Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to external users, conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
a) Providing patent information via the Internet
a-1) Providing official gazettes via the Internet.
See 3.(1).
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 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.
(URL) https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/
a-3) Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System
In January 2015, the JPO built the “Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System” which enables users to search machine translated full-text data (machine translation into Japanese) of Chinese/Korean patent/utility model documents by using Japanese text and made it available to examiners and the general users. Full texts (machine translation into Japanese) of Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications (CN-A), Chinese patent gazettes (CN-B and CN-C), Chinese Published registered utility model applications (CN-U and CN-Y), Korean Published Unexamined Patent Applications (KR-A), Korean patent gazettes (KR-B), Korean Published Unexamined Utility Model Applications (KR-U), and Korean Published registered utility model applications (KR-Y) published from 2003 onwards can be searched in Japanese. As of the end of March 2018, about 20 million patent/utility model documents are stored in the system. This service ended at the end of June 2019 because full-text machine translations are searchable on the J-PlatPat from May 2019.
a-4) 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 by data exchange between foreign IP Offices. Patent/utility model documents of Russia, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, 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 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 was newly provided in May 2019.
b-2) Proceeding 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. The data will end being provided in September 2019.
b-3) PAJ
See 2.(4)b)
b-4) Japanese abstracts of European and U.S. patent data
Japanese abstracts of U.S. patent descriptions, U.S. patent descriptions of unexamined patent applications, and European descriptions of unexamined patent applications prepared by translators by comprehending scope of claims and contents of the descriptions/drawings and by summarizing contents of the inventions.
b-5) Japanese abstracts of Chinese patent documents(※)
Three types of data manually translated in Japanese are as below:
- Abstracts of Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications published between 2010 and 2015.
- Excerpts of a part of Chinese Patent gazettes with the purpose of complementing machine translation. The material is extracted from claims, descriptions, etc., which are necessary to comprehend the contents of inventions.
- Full-text data of a part of Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications and Chinese Patent gazettes which were cited in the international search report.
※The abstracts are no longer produced after the end of March 2019.
b-6) Machine-translated text data of Chinese-Korean documents
Machine-translated full-text data of Chinese and Korean patent documents provided on the “Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System”.
Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications, Chinese patent gazettes, Chinese Published registered utility model applications, Korean Published Unexamined Patent Applications, Korean patent gazettes, Korean Published Unexamined Utility Model Applications, and Korean Published registered utility model applications published from 2003 onwards are subject to this machine translation.
c) Reference to Official Gazettes on Patent
The INPIT has 37 access devices, including sophisticated information browsing terminals, which is available in the Official Gazettes Reading Room on the second floor of the JPO office building. This allows free public access to “a search service for patent gazettes,” 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 within and outside Japan and is making them available to the public.
e) Provision of Licensable Patent Information
In order to ensure a smooth transfer of patents owned by companies, universities and public research institutes and prepared for rights transfers or licenses (licensable patents) and to promote their commercialization, the INPIT built a database of licensable patents, and made them available to the public on-line as the Patent Licensing Information Database.
The number of licensable patents registered in the Patent Licensing Information Database is estimated to be approximately 30,000 patents as of the end of May 2019.
https://plidb.inpit.go.jp/
f) Provision of Research Tool Patent Information
In order to promote use of research tool patents in a life science field, the INPIT has computerized information on the research tool patents owned by universities and public research institutes, enterprises, etc. and their license terms, and provides the information in “Research Tool Patent Database”.
The number of registrations in Research Tool Patent Database is about 400 as of the end of May 2019.
https://plidb.inpit.go.jp/research/home
Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
Legal status information of applications filed in January 1964 onwards can be searched on the J-PlatPat by using document numbers such as application numbers, publication numbers and registration numbers. In addition, Alert Service to notify of the status information update of designated applications is also available.
Other sources
Nothing in particular
IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
The JPO has been using an electronic application system, file wrapper system and peripheral examination assistance system since 1990. These systems improve the efficiency of administrative works by computerizing application filing, formality/substantive examinations, dispatch, registration, gazette publications, and requesting for inspection of files, requesting for certification.
In addition, an applicant can file a patent application or a utility model application via on-line from a personal computer. In October 2005, in addition to the conventional electronic applications through ISDN lines, the acceptance of electronic applications utilizing the Internet, as well as 24 hours a day, 365 days a year full-time acceptance of all electronic applications was introduced. Furthermore, in January 2007, the PCT international application via the internet was introduced.
In 2018, the ratios of on-line electronic filing was 98.6% for patent and utility model, 98.3% for appeals, 99.9% for the national procedures of a PCT internal application, and 98.2% for PCT international application.
Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
Servers, network devices, PCs for business use etc.
Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
a) Patent and Utility Model Search System
In December 1999, a patent and utility model search system, based on a distributed computing system, was put into operation. This system integrated not only the conventional F-term search system and a system to search computer-software related non-patent literature (CS literature), but also a foreign patent document search system using International Patent Classification (IPC) and patent classifications of overseas Offices such as Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC). Multiple search keys, such as F-term, FI, keyword, CS term, IPC and CPC, can be inputted simultaneously; thus an examination environment, enabling a seamless search of various documents, such as domestic patents, foreign patents, non-patents, was created.
A full text search function in Japanese and English has been actualized by using text data of domestic and foreign patent publications accumulated by adopting a paperless system.
b) Search System for Appeal/Trial and Court Decisions (J-term search system)
Appeal/trial and court decisions are accumulated in the form of electronic data with a search index, called “J-term,” and searching and screening for the appropriate appeal/trial and court decisions are conducted by using “J-term.”
In addition, a full-text search service is available for appeal/trial and court decisions issued after January 2000.
c) DNA Search System
This is a system introduced in January 1998 for searching gene-related information, and enables a homology search, which searches for a sequence utilizing homology in respect of nucleotide sequences and amino acid sequences, and a keyword search, which utilizes bibliographic data.
Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
a) File building and updating
The search files used by the examiner are prepared in association with FI, F-term, etc. Additionally, such search files are continuously renewed so that they are up-to-date.
b) Storage, including mass storage media
The search indices file used by the examiner is stored in an electronic form on RAID. In addition, document index information is stored on memory.
c) Documentation from other offices maintained and/or considered part of the available search file
The text data and the image data of the EPO, USPTO, WIPO, CNIPA and KIPO, as well as the image data of major European countries are stored, and searches of CPC, IPC, etc. are available.
Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
See IV. "Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements"
Other matters
Nothing in particular
V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF PATENT INFORMATION
Patent library: equipment, collection management, network of patent libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign patent libraries
a) Operation of the JPO Library, collection and management of materials
a-1) Operation of the JPO Library
The JPO Library, as a branch library of the National Diet Library, is located on the first basement of the JPO office building, and is operated in the following manner.
1. Users
- JPO staff and general users
2. Open
- 9:30 to 17:30
a-2) Collection of materials
The following are collected: Materials concerning IP right legislation and the peripheral laws inside and outside of Japan, related materials necessary for understanding IP rights, related materials necessary for study of IP rights, and reference materials for general administration.
As of the end of 2018, the library contains about 37,100 volumes.
a-3) Preservation methods of materials
The books are labeled and stored with a storage number and classification data, and the bibliographic information is inputted in the library system constructing a database for the books.
Publications related to different business procedures and patent information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
a. J-PlatPat
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
b. e-filing
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/
See 3. (4)for information products available to external users.
Office's initiatives on providing foreign patent information in the local language(s) (e.g., machine translation tools, translation of abstracts)
a) Japanese Abstracts of European and U.S. patent data
The INPIT creates Japanese Abstracts of European and U.S. patent data (See 3. (4) b-3)) and makes the data available for search and display by the J-PlatPat.
b) Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System
See 3.(4)a-3) This service ended at the end of June 2019 because full-text machine translations were searchable on the J-PlatPat after May 2019.
c) FOPISER
See 3. (4)a-4).
Cooperation with universities, research centers, technology and innovation support centers, etc.
Patent information is as important as journal information for researches conducted at universities, etc. In addition, patent information has a characteristic as public goods, since it is widely disclosed and contributes to the development of science and technology. The JPO has provided the Official Gazette Fixed-address Service which allows users such as universities to directly access data contained in Gazettes on the J-PlatPat with the aim of supporting R&D by universities.
In response to a growing need for machine translation of foreign patent documents, the JPO and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) cooperate with each other to improve the accuracy and promote utilization of machine translation of Chinese, Korean, English etc.
Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
a) J-PlatPat etc. training seminars
Training seminars of the J-PlatPat were held by the INPIT for beginners of industrial property right search from individuals and SMEs (24 times in 15 major cities nationwide in FY2018).
The organization also held information sessions of the J-PlatPat by request from universities and enterprises (5 times in FY2018).
b) Search expert training seminars
The INPIT held the following trainings.
- Training for Developing Searchers
The INPIT offers statutory training for those who wish to become “searchers" (staff that conduct the preparatory search business for prior art document searches outsourced by the JPO) in registered search organizations. (Article 37 of the Act on the Special Provisions to the Procedure, etc. Concerning Industrial Property Right) (four times a year).
- Search Expert Training [patent]
This seminar targets persons who have sufficient knowledge in the Patent Act and aims to develop experts who contribute to the rationalization of filing applications and making requests for examination by further improving their capabilities of conducting prior art searches (three times a year).
- Patent Search Practice Training
This seminar aims to develop human resources who can determine patentability based on the Examination Guidelines for Patents, which is required before a patent application is filed and after a patent has been acquired and a right is utilized, and accurately conduct patent searches in an efficient manner (once a year).
Other activities
Nothing in particular
VI. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION
International exchange and sharing of patent information in machine-readable form, e.g., priority documents, bibliographic data, abstracts, search reports, full text information
a) The Five IP Offices (IP5) data exchange and bilateral data exchange
The JPO periodically provides the Five IP Offices (IP5) with bibliographic data of patent/utility model gazettes, concordance data of patent document numbers, PAJ data, F-term inventories, PMGS data, and IPC files. In addition, JPO exchanges data between IP Offices other than the IP5. In 2018, Malaysia newly confirmed to exchange patent information data with the JPO.
b) Trilateral exchange of DNA sequence data
The JPO has sent the DNA sequence data, about 4,500 in 2018, published in the publications of patent applications, etc. to the National Institute of Genetics, an intermediary for the trilateral data exchange.
c) Sending Official Gazette on DVD-ROM to overseas
In 2015, the JPO exchanged official gazettes, etc. with 56 organizations (including international organizations) in 53 nations, out of which the JPO sent DVD-ROM “Japanese Patent and Registered Utility Model Specifications” to 28 organizations. The JPO also sent DVD-ROM “Published unexamined Patent applications” to 26 organizations.
The JPO discontinued sending official gazettes on DVD-ROM overseas in March 2015 and is currently providing the data on line.
Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to patent information
a) Dossier Information Mutual Reference System
The JPO as a lead Office promotes the One Portal Dossier (OPD), a system to integrally acquire and display information relating to applications and examinations (dossier information) concerning a set of the patent family filed in the IP5 Offices. Examiners of the IP5 Offices mutually have accessed dossier information of the IP5 Offices using this system since July 2013.
In March 2014, the JPO, through collaboration with the WIPO, established a linkage between the OPD and the WIPO-CASE, a dossier access system developed by the WIPO, to enable WIPO-CASE participating offices to refer to OPD’s dossier information.
The IP5 Offices have advanced cooperation so as to further expand service of the OPD developed for examiners and to allow general users around the world to receive the service alike. The JPO started service of providing the public with the OPD service at the J-PlatPat in July 2016.
b) PI Policies
At the Heads Meeting of IP5 Offices (EPO, JPO, KIPO, CNIPA and USPTO) held in June 2013, the IP5 Offices agreed on the policies prescribing the scope of and conditions for data on Patent Gazettes exchanged among the IP5 Offices. Specifically, the policies prescribe 1) the basic principle that the patent offices shall provide patent information at marginal costs or for free and 2) the scope of and conditions for use of data on Gazettes exchanged for free among patent offices. In response to this agreement, patent information which shall be subject to exchange under the agreement and the timing to implement this data exchange were discussed. In June 2014, the IP5 Offices agreed on action plans for the policies.
c) Authority File
The authority file is a list of document numbers of Gazettes issued by each patent office including the IP5 in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.37. Each office periodically updates and provides authority files. Authority files of each office are available on WIPO authority file portal site（https://www.wipo.int/standards/en/authority_file.html）, and authority files of JPO is provided on its website(https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/laws/koho/internet/authorityfile.html).
Assistance to developing countries
a) Activities/cooperation through voluntary contributions (Funds-in-Trust) for WIPO
a-1) Infrastructure building project for work sharing
Maintenance and function maintenance of a linkage between the OPD and WIPO-CASE
a-2) Workshop on utilization of the WIPO-CASE, etc.
This Workshop was held in Thailand in FY 2018, and lectures were held to learn how to use WIPO - CASE, to know information that can be referred to by the system and to deepen awareness of the importance and effectiveness of work sharing in patent examination, and to promote its use and utilization. At the workshop, significance of work sharing in patent examination and how to read major documents at each examination stage were explained. Attendees actively asked questions about how to obtain and utilize Dossier information, how to search documents, Patent system in Japan and so on.
a-3) ASEAN Patentscope
"ASEAN Patentscope", which is an online platform to access patent information of ASEAN countries, was released in FY 2017. In FY 2018, Laos newly became an information providing office, and all Patent information from 9 countries except Myanmar can be referred to collectively.
a-4) Seminar on dissemination and effective utilization of patent information
In FY2018, a lecture on the JPO’s actions for dissemination and effective utilization of patent information was held for individuals of IP offices mainly from the ASEAN major countries, Brazil, India and Mexico for the purpose of promoting dissemination and effective utilization of patent information.
a-5) Digitization support, workshop etc. at ASEAN and Asian countries
Digitization project was conducted in Laos, and Workflow Optimization project was conducted in Vietnam. In addition, Workshop targeted for 10 ASEAN countries and Asian countries was held in Malaysia. At this Workshop, the development status and concrete functions of the IT system provided by WIPO such as ASEAN Patentscope and WIPO-IPAS were introduced in order to promote the IT system introduction and the function improvement at each IP office.
a-6）Digitization support, workshop, etc. at IP offices of African major countries/regions
Digitization project was conducted at the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), as well as at IP offices in Zanzibar, Egypt, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Eswatini (former Swaziland), Ethiopia, and Uganda. In particular, Workshop was conducted to discuss management methods using IPAS in Uganda
a-7）Cooperation on Patent information search
TISC workshop was conducted in Benin, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Botswana. In addition, Sub-Regional Seminar on TISC development was conducted for ARIPO member countries in Zimbabwe.
Other activities
Nothing in particular
VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
1.Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application.
2. Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office.
3. Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases.