Novelty grace period for utility model applications in Japan

Submitted by 页之码 on

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

专利申请流程

  • The JPO conducts formality examination and substantive examination of the design patent application, and the substantive examination starts automatically, and the applicant does not need to submit a separate substantive examination request. JPO mainly examines the novelty and inventiveness of designs.

    • (*Secret design: applicants can request that their design remain secret for 3 years from the filing date).
  • Filing Language: Japanese

    via Paris Convention via Nationalization of PCT

    Necessary documents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Abstract Drawing
    3. Claim
    4. Specification
    5. Drawing

    Necessary documents:

    1. Abstract
    2. Abstract Drawing
    3. Claim
    4. Specification
    5. Drawing

    Attachments (if any)

    1. Sequence Listing (PDF format and TXT format)
    2. Microorganism preservation certificate and its Japanese translation
    3. Microorganism survival certificate and its Japanese translation
    4. Scanned Copy of Certified Priority Document / DAS
    5. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    6. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
    7. Notification issued by CNIPA notify the applicant the application has passed through the security review

    Attachments (if any)

    1. WIPO Publication
    2. ISR/IPRP
    3. Entering the Japanese national phase 19/28/34/41 amended
    4. Sequence Listing (PDF format and TXT format)
    5. Microorganism preservation certificate and its Japanese translation
    6. Microorganism survival certificate and its Japanese translation
    7. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    8. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
    • 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.
  • Filing Language: Japanese

    Necessary documents:

    1. Exterior Design Picture (Six Views)
    2. A Brief Description

    Attachments (if any):

    1. Scanned Copy of Certified Priority Document / DAS
    2. Declaration of Ownership/Certification of Employment/Assignment of priority
    3. Assignment for Patent Right Transfer
  • yes

    • Grant fee: The applicant shall pay the granted fee within 30 days after receiving the granted notice.
    • Annuity: The annual fee for the first to third years must be paid together with the application fee when the patent application is filed, and the annual fee will be paid year by year from the fourth year, and the payment period corresponds to the granted date. 200% of the year's annual fee paid within the month is a late fee.
  • yes

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

  • 10 years

    • 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.