Annual Technical Report on Patent Information Activities in 2014 submitted by JAPAN
1. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN PATENT INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
(1) Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of patent information activities and expected time frames for their realization
In February 2014, at the Intellectual Property Committee, Industrial Structure Council, the following actions were proposed as subjects for which specific measures should be taken regarding patent information activities.
a. Realization of an environment where Chinese and Korean documents can be searched in Japanese
From the viewpoint of supporting focused R&D by Japanese companies and efficient acquisition of rights of achievements made thereby, the JPO will accelerate the development of an information system which allows users to refer to and make full-text searches on Chinese and Korean documents in precisely-translated Japanese which account for nearly 50% of patent applications filed globally and may contain the world’s most advanced technologies. The information system will be provided by January 2015.
b. Realization of the world’s utmost quality service to provide information on intellectual property rights
The JPO will renovate the Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) to convert it into a new information infrastructure aimed at providing the world’s utmost quality service better than similar services provided by the WIPO or the EPO keeping in mind the share of roles between the private and public sectors. Specifically, the JPO will undertake the following initiatives.
(i) Enhancing the service to provide bulk information on intellectual property rights
The JPO will efficiently provide bulk information owned by it via the Internet from the viewpoint of creating a better environment where this service is provided by private information providers. Moreover, the JPO will positively make its own data available unless there is any specific problem.
(ii) Realizing a new Internet search/inquiry service
The government has the responsibility for providing the wide general public including business operators and universities with information in a prompt manner. A new Internet search/inquiry service provides basic information on national and international intellectual property rights which is publicized in gazettes, etc. together with other standard functions taking into account the status of information provision of other Offices, in order to promote the dissemination of information to individuals and SMEs that have any difficulty in accessing such information particularly in terms of costs.
In addition, the JPO will strive to speed up information provision and improve user interface based on the function of linking different services in the process of realizing this service. The JPO will look for a possibility of these new services provided by other Offices and cooperating with research institutes for the purpose of introducing this new service as early and efficient as possible.
c. Sharing of dossier information among the IP Offices and providing it for users
The JPO will share information related to applications, examination status, etc. (dossier information) between the Five IP Offices (IP5), advanced nations and emerging nations including ASEAN countries as well as realize the provision of service that enables users to retrieve the data all at once in an early stage. It will develop a function to provide the JPO dossier information in order to launch a service within 2016.
(2) New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies and plans mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
In order to achieve 1.(1)a “Realization of an environment where Chinese and Korean documents can be searched in Japanese,” the JPO built “a Chinese and Korean Gazette Tramslation and Search System” which is capable of searching and displaying machine translated full-text data (machine translation into Japanese) of Chinese/Korean patent / utility model documents and made it available to examiners and the general users in January 2015. For more information about this, see 3.(4)(a-3).
In order to achieve 1.(1)b “Realization of the world’s utmost quality service to provide information on intellectual property rights,” the JPO renovated the “Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL)” that had provided industrial property right information via the Internet without any charges since March 1999 and started providing the “Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat)” in March 2015, a new service to provide industrial property right information, to meet advancing and diversifying user needs. The J-PlatPat has user-friendly interface and provides industrial property right information search/retrieve services. In addition, it enables commercial providers in Japan to download the JPO-owned data in bulk. For more information about this, see 3.(4)(a-2).
(3) Main areas of patent information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
In August 2015, the JPO launched the “Foreign Patent Information Service (FOPISER)” to expeditiously provide the users with patent information obtained from foreign IP Offices by data exchange between foreign IP Offices. For more information, see 3.(4)(a-4).
(4) Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
1) Patent
In 2014, the number of applications was 325,989 (down 0.7% from the previous year) and the number of registrations was 227,142 (down 18.0% from the previous year).
2) Utility model
In 2014, the number of applications was 7,095 (down 6.9% from the previous year) and the number of registrations was 7,017 (down 4.7% from the previous year).
In 2013, the number of patent applications in the following technical fields has significantly increased compared to the previous year.
“E21 Earth or Rock Drilling; Mining” (up 25.4% from the previous year)
“A63 Sports; Games; Amusements” (up 12.7% from the previous year)
In 2013, the number of patent applications in the following technical fields recorded significant declines from the previous year.
“G11 Information storage” (down 33.0% from the previous year)
“G21 Nuclear Physics; Nuclear Engineering” (down 28.2% from the previous year)
Note: IPC classes with 500 or more applications in 2013 were examined.
(5) Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.
(Annual Report in Japanese) http://www.jpo.go.jp/shiryou/toukei/gyosenenji/index.html
(Annual Report in English)https://www.jpo.go.jp/english/reference_room/annual/index.html
(Status Report in Japanese and English)http://www.jpo.go.jp/english/reference_room/statusreport/index.html
2. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
(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 Department on the second floor of the JPO office building. Moreover, the on-line consultation service on frequently asked questions is available on a 24-hour basis at http://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, 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: http://www.inpit.go.jp/pcinfo/index.html.
(2) Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
a) (On-line) Search for Examination (Dossier) Information
The Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat) allows users to search various examination documents such as notifications of reasons for refusal, written opinions and written amendments issued in July 2003 onwards by using various document numbers such as filing number and publication number.
This service is only available on the Japanese version of the J-PlatPat at https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/web/tokujitsu/pfwj/PFWJ_GM401_Top.action
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.
Refer to 2.(1)b) for the software for electronic application.
(3) Classification1, preclassification2 (if applicable), reclassification3 activities; classification systems used (e.g., International Patent Classification (IPC)); matters concerning indexing of patent information
In 2014, the number of applications classified by the JPO applying the International Patent Classification was: about 290,000 when the application was laid open, about 270,000 when the Patent Gazette was issued, and about 7,000 when the registered utility model gazette was issued.
The JPO participated in the activities for the revision of the IPC, and sent their delegates to IPC-related WIPO meetings for aggressive activities.
(4) Abstracting, reviewing, and translation of the information contained in patent documents
a) Abstracts and inspections
From December 1, 1990, the JPO requires applicants filing patent application and utility model application to submit an Abstract in addition to filing documents. The Abstract is inserted into the front page of a Gazette together with the bibliographic matters such as the name of the applicant, the title of the invention. Although the Abstract is prepared by the applicant, in order to enhance its utility as the front-page database, the JPO checks whether the content of the Abstract is appropriate, and if it is found inappropriate, the Abstract is modified by the office (In 2014, the number of modified abstracts was about 50,000) .
b) Translation
1) Production of English Abstracts of Publication of Unexamined Patent Application in Japan
Patent Abstracts of Japan (hereinafter referred to as the “PAJ”) consists of English abstracts, with a representative drawing, of published unexamined patent applications filed by Japanese applicants and has been issued since 1976. The JPO has been sending PAJ to the foreign patent offices.
Since April 1995, for the publications of patent applications issued from October 1994 onwards, PAJ has been issued in a mixed mode CD-ROM format instead of the conventional paper booklet form. The PAJ CD-ROM is produced with the MIMOSA software that was jointly procured by the Trilateral Patent Offices (EPO, JPO, and USPTO). Currently the PAJ is sent to 83 foreign patent offices and public institutions.
PAJ issued in the paper booklet form (from 1976 to 1993) were subsequently sorted into 69 technical fields and published by IPC section on 99 CD-ROMs.
Starting from the April 1998 issue, all applications by both Japanese and foreigners have been issued in PAJ. In February 2012, the existing SGML data format was changed into an XML-based data format.
The PAJ/CD-ROM, used to be sold to the general public. However, its sale was discontinued in March 2015. It is currently provided to commercial providers in Japan for free via the J-PlatPat bulk download service.
Since October 2004, the translation services have been operated by the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (the “INPIT”).
2)Foreign patent documents
Refer to 5.(3).
(5) Other activities
Nothing in particular
3. SOURCES OF PATENT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE
(1) 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)
1) a) Main types and media of publications
The Japan Patent Office (hereinafter referred to as the “JPO”) publish the following patent documents in 2015:
- Published Unexamined Patent Applications: Internet
- Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Publication for Patent Applications: Internet
- Published Registered Utility Model Applications: Internet
- Patent: Internet
- Decision on Appeal/Trial in Patent: Internet
The following is the URL of published gazettes provided through the Internet.
URL: https://www.publication.jpo.go.jp/ik_pub/index.action?lang=en_US
2) Outline of published gazettes
In December 1990, the JPO began accepting patent applications and utility model applications filed by floppy disk (Floppy disk application was abolished in 1999) and on-line (electronic application). The JPO electronically edits the collected data acquired from the electronic applications (including paper-based applications converted into electronic data) and compiles them and publishes the Patent and Utility Model Gazettes.
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.
In July 2003, the JPO changed the domestic application forms of patent and/or utility model to conform to the PCT international application form and internationally standardized the electronic formats (use of XML forms).
a) Published Unexamined Patent Applications using the Internet
Published Unexamined Patent Applications which had been published in DVD-ROM publications of unexamined applications until March 2015 have been changed to gazette publication once a week using the Internet since April 2015.
This makes it possible to download gazettes for free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
A single volume of Published Unexamined Patent Applications includes about 4,100 issues and was issued 71 times in 2014.
Published Unexamined Patent Applications enable a search using 16 items as search keys, including document numbers, IPC, the name of the applicant, and the title of the invention.
b) Patent gazettes using the Internet
Patent gazettes which had been published in DVD-ROM publications of unexamined applications until March 2015 have been changed to gazette publication once a week using the Internet since April 2015.
This makes it possible to download gazettes for free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
A single volume of patent gazettes includes about 5,350 issues and was issued 50 times in 2014.
Patent gazettes enable a search using 22 items as search keys, including document numbers, IPC, the name of the applicant, and the title of the invention.
c) Published registered utility model applications using the Internet
Published registered utility model applications which had been recorded and published in DVD-ROM publications of unexamined applications until 2005 have been changed to gazette publication once a week using the Internet since January 2006.
This makes it possible to download gazettes for free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
A single-volume of the Published Registered Utility Model Applications includes an average of about 200 issues and it was issued 50 times in 2014.
Published registered utility model applications enable a search using 20 items as search keys, including document numbers, IPC, the name of the applicant, and the title of the invention.
(2) Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
Nothing in particular
(3) Information products and patent document collections (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external collections and databases
a) Off-line
a-1) LiqCryst
The JPO stores to the PC a database of liquid crystal materials, provided in CD-ROM format by the University of Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, thereby enabling a search.
a-2) Code V
This system enables database searches for various optical properties of lens systems shown in the documents in the public domain which are published by the Optical Research Associates based on the conditions established by said optical properties.
b) External databases
JPO examiners use the following external database as a means of search. These are available on-line using terminals established in JPO.
b-1) Nature.com
A website for searching the issues of Nature, a journal containing papers on science and technology, and related journals.
b-2) JDream III
A scientific and technical document search system, provided by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
b-3) STN
A search system for the database of the science and technology field which is mainly used for searching CAS-related databases.
b-4) Science Direct
A searchable internet website provided by Elsevier that provides access to more than 2,500 journals in the field of science, technology, medicine and social science published by the Elsevier Group, and bibliographic databases such as EMBASE, Compendex and reference works, etc.
b-5) IEEE Xplore
A searchable internet website provided by IEEE/IEE that provides access to their publications including magazines and minutes, IEEE standard, etc.
b-6) Thomson Innovation
A searchable Internet website for searching abstracts of worldwide patent documents using WPI data.
b-7) ACM/DL
A searchable internet website provided by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) for searching their scientific association journals.
b-8) Phama Business
A searchable internet website provided by Nikkei Business Publications Inc. for searching biotechnology-related articles published in the “Nikkei Biotech” magazine.
b-9) INTERGLAD
A searchable internet website provided by the New Glass Forum for searching a glass composition characteristic database.
b-10) Science
A searchable internet website for searching field of natural science information published in the “Science” magazine.
b-11) ProQuest
An internet search site provided by PQIL Limited for searching economy and finance-related documents.
b-12) Scopus
A searchable on-line bibliography providing access to approximately 21,000 academic journals covering a wide range of technological fields.
b-13) NIKKEI Telecom
A searchable internet website for enabling search for full text articles on general newspapers, industrial journals and specialty magazines.
b-14) NRI Cyber Patent Desk 2
A searchable internet website enabling search for abstracts of company technical journals and enabling concept-based search.
b-15) Scitation
A searchable internet website provided by AIP for searching journals titled “Journal of Applied Physics,” “Applied Physics Letters,” “Review of Scientific Instruments,” etc.
b-16) I-Chu-Shi WEB
An on-line bibliographic database that indexes periodicals on medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other related areas.
b-17) APS Journals
A searchable website that provides access to all journals published by the American Physical Society.
b-18) SpringerLink
An searchable internet website for searching life-science, chemical/material, information, engineering, medical, physics journals published by Springer
b-19) JJAP
An on-line internet search site of the JJAP (Japanese Journal of Applied Physics) published by the Japan Society of Applied Physics.
b-20) Colour Index
A searchable internet website for searching information on colorants and pigments.
b-21) Chemical Documents Library
An on-line Internet search site for full-text searches and inspection of the “Chemical Handbook,” the “Experimental Science Course,” and the “Standard Chemical Term Dictionary” edited by the Chemical Society of Japan as well as searches of compounds based on the “Chemical Handbook: Basic Edition; Revised 5th Edition; CD-ROM.”
b-22) CiNii
A searchable internet website covering about 2.8 million papers from academic and association journals published in Japan and abroad, which are owned by the NII (National Institute of Informatics).
b-23) ACS Publications
An on-line journal website providing access to the journal articles published by the ACS (American Chemical Society).
b-24) GeneCards
A searchable integrated database on information on human genes, such as the genetic structure, function, expressivity, SNPs of genetic disorders and related journal articles.
b-25) Medical On-line
A searchable internet website of medical, dentistry and pharmaceutical journal articles published by Japanese academic associations and publishers.
b-26) Wiley On-line Library
An electronic journal website which contains about 1,500 journals in fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, etc.
b-27) Annual Review
An Internet website which allows you to browse reviews published each year by Annual Reviews and written by major scientists mainly in the fields of biotechnology, medicine and physics.
b-28) Oxford Journals
An on-line document database provided by Oxford University Press which contains documents related to life-science and pharmaceuticals
b-29) Technical Disclosure Web
A website for searching articles that appeared in the “Technical Disclosure” journal published by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.
b-30) OSA Publishing
A website for accessing journals published by the OSA.
b-31) Merck Index
An on-line database of chemical substances. With entries on about 18,000 compounds, the website enables access and searching for physical properties, uses and selected literature references.
b-32) J-STAGE
A searchable Internet website for comprehensively searching various on-line journal websites.
b-33) RSC Publishing
A website of chemical journals operated by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
b-34) Electrochemical Society
An Internet website for browsing magazines issued by the Electrochemical Society.
b-35) AACR Publications
An Internet website for browsing on-line journals related to cancer treatment provided by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
b-36) SPIE Digital Library
The SPIE Digital Library is the website that publishes online technical papers from SPIE Journals and Conference Proceedings from 1962 to the present, as well as eBooks published by SPIE Press.
b-37) Mintel GNPD
An Internet website for searching databases in which information such as names, all raw materials, time of sales, purpose of use of commercial products (cosmetics, health-care products, food and beverages, domestic products and pet-care products) is registered.
b-38) IHS Standards Expert
IHS Standards Expert is an online tool, enabling the search and organization of standards documents and reference materials from more than 370, IHS-catalogued, standards developing organizations (SDO).
b-39) Japio-GPG/FX
Japio-GPG/FX is the website which is capable of searching and displaying machine translated full-text data (machine translation into Japanese) of English/Chinese patent documents.
(4) 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 IP rights information via the Internet
a-1) Providing official gazettes via the Internet.
Refer to 3.(1).
a-2) Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat)
The JPO has been providing the Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) service since March 1999. This service is accessible through the Internet and covers 98 million items of IP information by using document numbers and classifications as search keys. This service was transferred to the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (the “INPIT”) as of October 2004, and has been operated there since.
In order to meet advancing and diversifying user needs for industrial property right information, the JPO renovated the “Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL)” and started providing the “Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat)” in March 2015, a new service to provide industrial property right information via user-friendly interface. The J-PlatPat currently stores about 100.3 million cases of industrial property right information.
(Japanese) https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/web/all/top/BTmTopPage
(English) https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/web/all/top/BTmTopEnglishPage
The main patent and utility model information related services provided by the INPIT are as follows;
(i) Simplified Search (patent, utility model, industrial design and trademark)
This search method is for beginners who are not familiar with IP information. Simplified search input box located on the top page of the J-PlatPat, a common user interface for four IP types, can be used to search by using key words. As for patent and utility model, patent and utility model gazettes (Published patent applications, the Japanese translation of PCT international applications, domestic republications of PCT international applications and Registered Utility Model Applications) issued from 1993 onwards can be searched.
(ii) Patent/utility model gazette database search
Various patent and utility model gazettes (including the publications of patent applications, examined applications and registrations), published from 1885 onwards can be searched by using document numbers. As for retrieved documents, PDF displaying and retrieval of the legal status and dossier information have become possible on a document-by-document basis. An English version is also available.
(iii) Patent and utility model text search
Full texts of publications of unexamined patent/utility model applications issued from January 1993 onwards, patent / utility model gazettes issued from January 1994 onwards, and publications of registered utility model applications issued from July 1994 onwards can be searched by using key words and classifications (FI, F-term, facet). As for retrieved documents, PDF displaying and retrieval of the legal status and dossier information have become possible on a document-by-document basis.
As for foreign patent gazettes, Japanese abstracts of U.S. patents, European patents, and Chinese patents are subject to a search. Japanese abstracts of Chinese patents can be displayed with English abstracts of Chinese Patents on one screen. Moreover, linked with the J-Global, a service provided by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), patent / utility model gazettes and non-patent literature can be searched simultaneously.
(iv) Patent and utility model classification searches
Various patent/utility model gazettes published from 1885 onwards can be searched by using FI and F-terms as well as facet and IPC used within the JPO.
An English version of the FI and/or F-term search is also available. As for retrieved documents, PDF displaying and retrieval of the legal status and dossier information have become possible on a document-by-document basis.
(v) Patent map guidance
A list of reference is available for IPC, FI, F-term descriptions and F-terms. An IPC-FI concordance search (a function to identify FI by IPC) is available. An English version is also available.
(vi) Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ) Search (displayed in English)
English abstracts of publications of patent applications published from 1976 onwards can be retrieved by searching free word. Also, the JPO has been providing full texts (machine translation into English) of the Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications issued from January 1993 onwards.
(vii) Foreign gazette DB
Various patent and utility model gazettes of Europe, the US, China, South Korea, the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland and Canada can be inquired by document numbers. Japanese abstracts of European, the U.S. and Chinese documents are also available.
(viii) Seaerch for Examination (Dossier) information
Refer to 2.(2)a)
Search for the documents sent to the applicants by the JPO and the documents sent by applicants from July 2003 onwards have become possible by using document numbers. In addition, some documents used within the JPO have also become possible to retrieve.
Furthermore, the published appeal and trial decisions from 1940 onwards, and as related information, the status information (for those filed from 1990 onwards) on appeal and trial decisions, the legal status on applications, registrations and trial decisions are also available.
a-3) Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System
In January 2015, the JPO built “a Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System” which is capable of searching and displaying machine translated full-text data (machine translation into Japanese) of Chinese/Korean patent / utility model documents and made it available to examiners and the general users. Full texts (machine translation into Japanese) of Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications, Chinese patent gazettes, Chinese Published registered utility model applications, Korean Published Unexamined Utility Model Applications, and Korean Published registered utility model applications published from 2003 onwards can be searched in Japanese. As of the end of July 2015, about 12.5 million Chinese and Korean patent / utility model documents are stored at the system.
a-4) Foreign Patent Information Service (FOPISER)
In August 2015, the JPO launched the “Foreign Patent Information Service (FOPISER)” to expeditiously provide the users with patent information obtained from foreign IP Offices by data exchange between foreign IP Offices. Patent / utility model documents of Russia, Taiwan and Australia, previously not available for a search on the J-PlatPat, are available for retrieval of document numbers and simplified search by English key words via Japanese user interface.
b) Providing JPO data
The following types of data are currently provided to commercial providers in Japan via the J-PlatPat bulk download service.
b-1) Standardized data
Since March 1999, the JPO began providing the JPO’s bibliographical and status information to external users by organizing and converting it into a standard format (Seiri-hyoujunka data) for better usability for external users. This service was managed by the INPIT, and has been provided to external users on a weekly basis.
b-2) Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ)
See 2.(4)b)
b-3) Japanese abstracts of European and U.S. patents
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-4) Japanese abstracts of Chinese patent data
Japanese abstracts of Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications published from 2010 onwards translated by the human.
b-5) Chinese patent data with FI and F-terms
Chinese Published Unexamined Patent Applications published from 2011 onwards in some technical fields with Japanese classifications (FI and F-terms) assigned to them.
b-6) Machine-translated text data of Chinese/Korean documents
Machine-translated full-text data of Chinese and Korean patent documents provided by 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
INPIT has 42 access devices, including those capable of conducting advanced searches, which is available in the Public 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 IPDL 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 prepared for rights transfers or licensed implementation (licensable patents) within the industrial sector and between local companies and to promote their commercialization, the INPIT built a database of licensable patents owned by companies, universities and public research institutes, 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 35,000 patents as of the end of March 2015.
http://plidb.inpit.go.jp/PDDB/Service/PDDBService
(5) Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)
Legal status information of applications filed in January 1990 onwards can be searched on the Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat) by using document numbers such as filing numbers, publication numbers and registration numbers. In addition, applications filed in 1989 and before can be searched if any data (e.g. publication of Gazettes, requests for examination, registration to establishment rights, requests for trials/appeals) was renewed in April 1998 onwards.
(6) Other sources
Nothing in particular
4. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO PATENT INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE
(1) Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
The JPO has been using an electronic application, 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. The whole content of the application are stored in an electronic file, processed and managed. Currently, to improve the efficiency of drafting by linking the drafting system with the search systems and that of examination by implementing electronic approval, and for faster gazette publication and for the separate management of each application, the following subsystems are operating;
(1) Electronic application system (software for clients for filing applications using the Internet)
(2) Filing system (electronic application filing)
(3) Record copy management system (management of bibliographic information, legal status information and actual document data)
(4) Formality check system (automatic formality check, formality-check-related drafting, approval and time management, etc)
(5) On-line dispatch system (on-line notification to applicants)
(6) On-line viewing system (on-line request and viewing)
(7) Examination-related administrative work system (substantive-examination-related drafting, approval and management, etc)
(8) System for appeals and trials (appeals-and-trials-related drafting, approval and management, etc)
(9) Registration clerical work system (registration to establishment rights, management of the original patent register, etc.)
(10) Gazette system (publication and management of electronic gazettes)
Owing to the introduction of these systems, an applicant can file a patent application or a utility model application via on-line from a personal computer. Moreover, a paperless system related to the appeal (including reconsideration by examiner before appeal) and to the domestic administrative procedures of a JPO-designated PCT international application has been put into place. In April 2004, the electronic filing of PCT international applications was launched.
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. Through the Internet application, not only high speed and high capacity communication using the currently widespread broadband has become possible, but also the exact authentication of personal identification and the prevention of a falsification of documents through the use of electronic certificates and communication security through the use of encryption methods have been achieved.
At the end of March 2009, the said electronic application through ISDN line was abolished to integrate it into the internet application.
In 2014, the ratios of on-line electronic filing was 98.3% for patent and utility model, 99.5% for appeals, 99.9% for the national procedures of a PCT internal application, and 96.8% for PCT international application.
(2) Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
a )The hardware used
1) DNA search server: 1 set
2) Design search server: 1 set
3) Data exchange server for priority certificates: 1 set
4) Trademark search server: 1 set
5) Figure trademark server: 1 set
6) F-term search server: 1 set
7) Operation management server: 1 set
8) One Portal Dossier server: 1 set
9) Appeals/trials and registration server: 1 set
10) XML management server: 1 set
11) Patent / utility model record copy server: 1 set
12) Design/Trademark record server: 1 set
13) Peripheral server for patent and utility model formality/examination: 1 set
14) PCT-RO server: 1 set
15) XML Official Gazette server: 1 set
16) Document image accessing server: 1 set
17) Data warehouse server: 1 set
18) Patent, utility model and design document server: 1 set
19) E-application acceptance server: 1 set
20) E-application acceptance server (backup center): 1 set
21) PCT Internet e-filing acceptance server: 1 set
22) Network equipment, etc.: 1 set
23) Common firewall: 1 set
24) Common table management server: 1 set
25) Server for information network system: 1 set
26) PC for business purposes: 1 set
27) PC for EPOQUE.WEST: 1 set
28) A system for employees going on a business trip: 1 set
29) Remote access server: 1 set
30) Full-text search server: 1 set
(3) Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
a) Patent and Utility Model Search System (F-term 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 (clustered) 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, key word, 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. This system enables referencing by linking patent family documents, citing documents, and cited documents. Furthermore, the text data of prior to laying-open specifications is stored and is available for search.
In addition, in January 2005, a terminal incorporating 2 screens, one ordinary resolution LCD for performing search work and one high-resolution LCD for displaying documents such as Patent Gazettes and the like, was introduced.
b) Patent and Utility Model Search System (Full-text search system)
A full-text search in Japanese and English is also available by the system collecting the following systems (1) to (4).
(1) The full-text search system (technology) divides about 1TB of full text data into the input text “n” by creating index with a document number including each string and an appearance position of string and realizes high-speed full text retrieval (a document retrieval method, n-gram Indexing).
(2) Relational database (RDB) (Symfoware) registers XML documents using its function and realizes high-speed full text retrieval including different notation retrieval, neighborhood retrieval and Broad NOT retrieval functions (high-speed full text retrieval technology)
(3) By using about 8% of the full text retrieval servers as spare servers, this technology enables to automatically switch to a spare server in case of incidents, minimizing impact on business by incidents (impact distribution standbyless).
(4) Blade servers support flexible and expandable system configuration that can easily respond to an increase in the amount of searches by making each of them a module with power, cooling fan, etc. (blade servers)
c) 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.
d) 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.
(4) Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
a) File building
a-1) F-term analysis
The search file is classified into about 2,600 themes (technical fields). At present, about 1,800 themes are analyzed by F-terms and can be used in search.
a-2) Making F-terms Available to the General Public
The JPO has made all the F-terms of the usable themes available to the general public via the Internet through the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT). The F-term is available to the general public and users can conduct the F-term search through the use of the Patent Map Guidance on the Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat) of the INPIT.
b) Updating
The search file used by the examiner is continuously renewed so that it is up-to-date. To the search files, Japanese patent documents (publication of patent applications, publication of registered utility model, etc.) are added in accordance with the JPO's internal classifications (FI) developed by subdividing the IPC.
c) 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.
d) 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, SIPO and KIPO, as well as the image data of major European countries are stored, and searches of CPC, IPC, etc. are possible.
(5) Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
Refer to 4.(1).
(6) Other matters
Nothing in particular
5. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF PATENT INFORMATION
(1) 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 18:00
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 2014, the library contains 38,500 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.
b) Interlibrary lending
Interlibrary lending of books etc. has been conducted among the National Diet Library and the branch libraries of each ministry and government offices.
Furthermore, the JPO is participating in the “Distributed Type Comprehensive Data System” which permits a batch data retrieval from the database of the books held by all the branch libraries by using the Kasumigaseki WAN (an inter ministry wide area network linking the LANs of each ministry and government offices (in-house Local Area Network)), which was constructed by the National Diet Library.
(2) Publications related to different business procedures and patent information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.
a. Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat)
The INPIT compiles an instruction manual for how to operate and utilize various search services provided by the J-PlatPat.
URL http://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.”
Refer to 3.(4) for information products available to external users.
(3) Office's initiatives on providing foreign patent information in the local language(s) (e.g., machine translation tools, translation of abstracts)
The JPO prepares translated data of the Japanese abstracts of US patent descriptions, the publication of US patent descriptions, the publication of EPO patent descriptions and the Chinese publication of unexamined patent applications. The data can be searched and displayed on the J-PlatPat.
The services for abstracts data on U.S. patent descriptions, U.S. patent descriptions of unexamined patent applications, and European descriptions of unexamined patent applications have been operated by the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (the “INPIT”) since October 2004.
In addition, the JPO launched a Chinese and Korean Gazette Translation and Search System which is capable of searching and displaying machine translated full-text data of Chinese and Korean documents in January 2015.
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 a search.
(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 IPDL Official Gazette Fixed-address Service since 2007 which allows users such as universities to directly access data contained in Gazettes on the IPDL with the aim of supporting R&D by universities.
This service is also made available at the “Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat)” that has been provided since March 2015.
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, etc.
(5) Education and training: training courses, e-learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
a) IPDL etc. training seminars
Training seminars of patent search using Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) were held for beginners of industrial property right search from individuals and SMEs (8 times in 6 major cities nationwide in FY2014). The first session of the seminar were held on weekends in Osaka, respectively, and on weekdays in other cities. Furthermore, along with the launch of the “Japan Platform for Patent Information (J-PlatPat)” replacing the IPDL on March 23, 2015, workshops on the PlatPat were held (a total of 15 times in 9 major cities throughout Japan). IPDL and J-PlatPat have been managed at the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) since October 2004 (Trainings have been held since FY2006)
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 (advanced level)
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 (four 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).
(6) Other activities
Nothing in particular
6. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF PATENT INFORMATION
(1) 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
As part of its efforts for the Trilateral Offices' data exchange project, the JPO periodically provides the Five IP Offices (IP5) with bibliographic data of patent/utility model gazettes, concordance data of patent document numbers, Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ) data, F-term inventories, PMGS data, and IPC files. In addition, it exchanges data with IP Offices other than the Five IP Offices (IP5).
b) Trilateral exchange of DNA sequence data
The JPO has sent the DNA sequence data published in the publications of patent applications, etc. (about 4,000 data in 2014) to the National Institute of Genetics, an intermediary for the trilateral data exchange.
c) Sending Official Gazette on DVD-ROM to overseas
The JPO discontinued sending official gazettes on DVD-ROM overseas in March 2015.
In 2014, the JPO exchanged official gazettes, etc. with 59 organizations (including international organizations) in 54 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.
(2) 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 filing documents and examination documents (dossier information) concerning a set of the patent family filed in the Five IP Offices (IP5 Offices)(the EPO, the JPO, the KIPO, the SIPO, and the USPTO) . 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 JPO-OPD and the WIPO-CASE, a dossier access system developed by the WIPO, to enable WIPO-CASE participating offices to refer to JPO’s dossier information. Moreover, the JPO has cooperated with the other IP5 Offices to further enhance the OPD, originally developed for examiners, for the purpose of providing the same service to the general users around the world. JPO’s dossier information has made available to the general public along with the other IP5 Offices’ dossier information in 2015.
b) PI Policies
At the Meeting of IP5 Offices (EPO, JPO, KIPO, SIPO and USPTO) held on June 5, 2013 in the United States, the IP5 Offices agreed on the policies prescribing the scope of and conditions for data on Patent Gazettes exchanged between 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 between patent offices. In response to this agreement, patent information which shall be subject to exchange under the agreement and 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 publication numbers and dates of publication of Gazettes issued by each patent office.
External publication of the authority file was approved at the Meeting of IP5 Offices held in the Republic of Korea on June, 6, 2014. The IP5 Offices have been holding discussions for unifying its format.
(3) Assistance to developing countries
a) Assistance to developing countries through cooperation with WIPO
The JPO has been providing developing countries with search results free of charge in respect to the cooperation on the WIPO State-of-the-Art Searches Program. In 2014fy, the JPO provided 40 search results.
b) Activities/cooperation through voluntary contributions (Funds-in-Trust) for WIPO
(1) Infrastructure building project for work sharing
This is a project to implement a linkage between the OPD and the WIPO-CASE which was conducted from 2013 to 2014. See 6.(2) a).
(2) Workshops on how to utilize the WIPO-CASE, etc.
These workshops provide opportunities to learn how to use WIPO-CASE, what kind of information is available with it, and how to utilize the referred information in substantive examination as well as deepening understanding of importance and effectiveness of work-sharing in substantive patent examination. With the aim at facilitating its dissemination/utilization, the JPO delivered lecturers at the workshops in July and October 2014 and February 2015. The lecturer suggested the significance of work sharing in substantive patent examination as well as how to read documents of prosecution in substantive examination phase.
Participants in the lectures strongly supported the effectiveness of retrieving dossier information of multiple offices at a single portal site.
(3) Training for government officials
A 2-week training related to computerization was provided in Japan under the cooperation with the WIPO. The JPO invited trainees from 21 countries.
http://www.training-jpo.go.jp/en/index.php/2852
(4) Capacity building for effective innovation support services with a focus on access to and utilization of technical database.
A regional seminar was held in Malaysia in December 2014 to provide ASEAN countries with a place to discuss a roadmap for implementation of innovation support services. In March 2015, a training seminar was held in Mongolia by the Technology & Innovation Support Center (TISC).
(5) Data capture project at the IPO Nigeria (in progress)
Patent (and, design and trademark)-related bibliographic items are being data-captured at the IPO Nigeria.
(6) Digitization project at the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (in progress)
IP-related files are being digitized at the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office to simplify the procedures for granting industrial property rights as well as to achieve efficient IP administration.
(7) Digitization project at the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) (in progress)
Patent (and, design and trademark)-related documents are being digitized at the OAPI to ease the burden of procedures for data entry of documents including applications as well as to improve its performance.
(8) Deployment of the IPAS Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in selected Member States of ARIPO using the IPAS
The EDMS has been installed in five African countries with the aim of providing on-line services in the future, building up skills for the establishment of logical infrastructure for preserving and managing scanned images, capture & digitization of front pages, and developing capabilities of utilizing IPAS to provide on-line services.
(9) Workshop on access to science and technology information, etc.
In October 2014, a workshop was held at the ARIPO especially with the aim of improving accesses to science and technology information as well as to conduct capacity building of Least Developed Countries.
(10) Capacity building for effective access to technical databases
The JPO supports effective use of technical information on the Internet by local users who live in developing countries by providing a basic infrastructure capable of Internet access and providing the staff with trainings at the Technology & Innovation Support Centers (TISCs).
Specifically, the JPO held seminars, etc. in the (Democratic Republic of) Sao Tome and Principe in May, (the Republic of) Senegal in June, (the Republic of) Zambia in July, and (the United Republic of) Tanzania in September in 2014; and in (the Republic of) Ghana in February and Burkina Faso in March in 2015.
c) Cooperation using other organizations for developing countries
(1) Sending experts
As of March 2015, the JPO sends one long-term expert to the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) and the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP), respectively, under the JICA scheme.
(2) Japan-Singapore Partnership Program for the 21st Century
In October 2014, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore jointly held the training for middle and senior administrative officials who engage in the field of IP in Singapore for the purpose of sharing information on measures for disseminating and utilizing patent information. The JPO sent a lecturer and he gave discourses on the measures taken by the JPO.
(3) Training for government officials
The JPO offered a training program targeting patent examiners from developing countries, mainly those in the Asia-Pacific region, to improve their examination skills. The program covered examination practices and focused on how to make use of patent information.
*For further information, visit the following JPO’s website.
http://www.jpo.go.jp/torikumi_e/kokusai_e/ipcoop_asia-pacific_e13.htm
(4) Other activities
Nothing in particular
7. OTHER RELATED MATTERS
(1) The term “patent” covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs).
- Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.
(2) Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application.
(3) Pre-classification 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.
(4) 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.
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.