Which is the competent authority for Japanese invention patent applications?

20 years, and the validity period of patents for pharmaceutical inventions and pesticide inventions can be extended to 25 years upon application.

• Grant fee: The applicant should pay the granted fee and the annual fee for the first year within 30 days after receiving the granted notice.
• Annuity: The annual fee shall be paid year by year from the second year from the date of granted, and the payment of the annual fee may be postponed within 6 months if the annual fee is overdue, but a 200% penalty shall be paid at the same time.

Reinstatement of priority is accepted on grounds of "due care."

The JPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of invention patent applications. The applicant should submit a request for substantive examination within 3 years from the filing date. The JPO makes an granted decision if it determines after review that no grounds for refusal have been found.

The JPO conducts formality examination only for utility model patent applications.

Inventors have a novelty grace period of 12 months after disclosure (including sale).

yes.

• Within 3 years from the filing date, the patent type can be changed from utility model to invention upon request of the applicant
• Utility model patents can be converted to design patents at any time

A conversion fee shall be paid for patent type conversion. Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn.

• via Paris Convention : 6 months from earliest priority date.
• Hague Agreement route: 6 months from earliest priority date.

Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.