Which is the competent authority for utility model patent applications in Japan?

yes

25 years

• Grant fee: The applicant needs to pay the granted fee within 30 days after receiving the granted notice, which is the annual fee for the first to third years.
• Annuity: From the 4th year from the date of granted, the annual fee will be paid year by year, and the payment can be postponed within 6 months after the overdue period, but at the same time, 200% of the annual fee of the current year must be paid as a penalty. The amount of the annual fee depends on the number of Claim, and the annual fee can be paid for several years in one lump sum.

yes.

• Within the period of 9 years and 6 months from the date of application for the invention patent, or within 3 months from the date of receipt of the notification of rejection, the patent type of the invention patent may be changed from invention to utility model/design upon request
• A request to change the patent type from invention to utility model/design can be filed within three months from the date of the JPO’s first decision to reject the application

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 Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn.

10 years

Japan Patent Office

English: Japan Patent Office, abbreviation: JPO

Website: Japan Patent Office (jpo.go.jp)

Japanese Utility Model Patent Search: Japan Platform for Patent Information｜J-PlatPat [JPP] (inpit.go.jp)

• via Paris Convention : 12 months from earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT : 30 months from the earliest priority date.

3-6 months

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

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