yes. Within 3 years from the date of application, or within 3 months from the date of receipt of the rejection decision, the patent type can be changed from design to invention/utility model at the request of the applicant.
A conversion fee shall be paid for patent type conversion. Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn.
- Filing Language: Japanese - Necessary documents: - Exterior Design Picture (Six Views)
- A Brief Description
 - Attachments (if any): - Scanned Copy of Certified Priority Document / DAS
- Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
- Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
 
- yes 
- yes. Multiple designs may be included in one design application. 
- Japan Patent Office - English: Japan Patent Office, abbreviation: JPO - Website: Japan Patent Office (jpo.go.jp) - Japanese Invention Patent Search: Japan Platform for Patent Information|J-PlatPat [JPP] (inpit.go.jp) 
- 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.
 
- yes. Within 3 years from the date of application, or within 3 months from the date of receipt of the rejection decision, the patent type can be changed from design to invention/utility model at the request of the applicant. - A conversion fee shall be paid for patent type conversion. Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn. 
- 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 Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn. 
- Inventors have a novelty grace period of 12 months after disclosure (including sale). 
- The JPO conducts formality examination only for utility model patent applications. 
- yes 
