July 2008

1. Outline of the revisions of Japanese Intellectual Property Law expected in 2008.
2. A dispatch system of specialists in the field of intellectual property to be established.
3. The "Community Patent Review" to be launched experimentally.
4. Eco-Patents: companies to mutually provide free access to their Eco-Patents.
5. Intellectual Property High Court accepted the registration as a three-dimensional trademark of the Coca-Cola bottle.

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June 2008

1. The USPTO and the EPO will launch a Pilot project of Patent Prosecution Highway.
2. Research results for technical trends of patent applications are released.
3. Income and expenditure of intellectual property in Japanese showed a surplus of 4,6 milliard dollar and thereby Japan moves up the world's second place.
4.Patent and trademark related offical fees will be reduced: Effective on june 1, 2008.

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May 2008

1. Human induced pluripotent stem cells.
2. Kuidaore Taro.
3. Japanese regional brands are registered in China.

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April 2008

1. Copyright of Chaplin's masterpiece is still in force; intellectual Property High Court issued an injunction of low-priced DVDs.
2. 3.7 times more patent applications filed by universities during last 3 years. Universities utilize their achievements for survival.
3. Trademark "Shinpei ETOH" filed by a man from Saga prefecture is registered.

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March 2008

1. Royalty for private copying of CD, DVD and etc. will be reduced.
2. A period for demanding an appeal will be extended to three months and patent related costs will be reduced by 12%.
3. The JPO intends to establish a guideline for specifying risks regarding patents targeted at companies.
4. The European Union is to establish a uniform patent system.

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February 2008

1. The JP-FIRST, a measure to start examinations of Japanese basic patent applications.
2. More than 4 million patent applications (accumulating total) filed in China.
3. The copyright of "Shane" is no longer in force (Supreme Court decision).

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January 2008

1. Ink cartridge, recycled products infringe patent right (Canon).
2. Ink cartridge, patent is invalid (Seiko Epson).
3. Plasma panel patent dispute: Matsushita and Samsung reached settlement.

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December 2007

1. The JPO released a proposed revision of the registration system of non-exclusive license and etc., asking thereby for voices.
2. No to "Harry Potter encyclopedia": The author filed an injunction against the publication.
3. iPhone is the "Invention of the year", nominated by the TIME Magazine.
4. First seventies passed the examination for Japanese patent attorney.

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November 2007

1. Korean recognized as "the official language of the international publication" under the patent Corporation Treaty.
2. Japan Fair Trade Commission published the revised guidelines for the use of intellectual property.
3. USPTO offers free download of trademark data.

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September 2007

1. Collective Trademark "Toyama Kusuri(Medicine)" is Registered
2. US House Approves Patent Reform
3. Takeda Settles Lawsuit Claiming Remuneration for Employee Inventions

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August 2007

1. MAFF Opened "Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery Intellectual Property Network" Portal Site
2. Earnest Wish is Realized by Trademark Registration of "Regional Brand" Soka Senbei(Rice Cracker), Allowing PR of Genuine Soka Senbei by Local Associations
3. Aomori Bank and Jlll Reached Conclusion of Comprehensive Trademark Agreement

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July 2007

1. G8 Leaders Confirmed Integration to “First-to-File Rule” for Realization of a World-wide Patent System, at Heiligendamm Summit
2. Japan Patent Office Made Annual Report Public: 4% Decrease in Domestic Patent Applications and Increase in Applications Filed Abroad by Japanese Parties, in 2006
3. Japan Patent Office Decides Policy of Annual Patent Fee Reduction at Maximum of 40%
4. National Tax Agency Presents New Transfer-Pricing Policy

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June 2007

1. Japanese Government Formally Decided “Intellectual Property Strategic Program 2007”
2. China and South Korea will Join Japan, the United States, and Europe in Efforts to Create Integrated Patent System
3. Japan and India Signed Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Field of Intellectual Property Rights

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May 2007

1. US Filed Complaints Regarding IPR Protection against China to WTO
2. Subsidiary of Hitachi Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Relating PDP against Korean LG Electronics,Inc
3. Canon's Litigation with Nano-Proprietary lnvolving SED Concluded

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April 2007

1. JPO Published a Collection of Case IP Strategies by Summarizing the Results of Company Hearings
2. Kodansha Made an Accusation of Putting a Scoop on the Net in Advance
3. Meeting between the Custom Leaders of Japan, China, and South Korea, Held on April 11, 2007, Antiterrorist Measures and Intellectual Property on the Agenda
4. Support for Small and Medium Enterprises in Patent Prior-art Search Is Started in the New Fiscal Year with Its Target Widened

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March 2007

1. Japan's surplus in patent royalty payment reaches 547 billion yen in 2006 for the first time
2. Former researcher filed lawsuit seeking 870 million yen
3. The Examination of Proficiency in Intellectual Property becomes national examination

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Revision of Japanese Patent Law, Design Law, and Trademark Law

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February 2007

1. METI Sums Up "Patent Examination Reform/Acceleration Plan 2007 for Promotion of Innovations"
2. Revised Copyright Law to Let Net-Searching Businesses Use Data without Permission
3. Exclusion of Downloads Via P2P Program from "Duplication for Private Use"

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January 2007

1. Winny Developer found guilty by Kyoto District Court
2. China officially joins two Treaties of WIPO
3. Canon and Toshiba reconsider construction of SED Plant

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December 2006

1. 3D Trademark of "Hiyoko" Invalidated as Too Common a Shape : IP-High Count
2. Governmental Task Force for IP Strategy Establishes General Scheme for Promoting Activities for international Standards
3. Road Map to Mutual Use of Patent Information Amongst Japan, China,and S.korea, List of Collaborative Activities Announced

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November 2006

1. CABINET ORDINANCE REGARDING TRANSITIONAL MEASURES ACCOMPANYING ENFORCEMENT OF REVISED TRADEMARK LAW AND DESIGN LAW
2. MICROSOFT AND NOVELL ARE NOW IN ALLIANCE
   ~ STEP TO INTEROPERATION OF WINDOWS AND LINUX ~
3. JAPANESE COMPANIES INCREASING THEIR PATENT APPLICATIONS IN CHINA
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Octorber 2006

1. Japan, U.S., and EU Agreed to Establish New Convention, Aiming Unification to First-to-File System
2. Drug Patent Online Market Set Up
3. KIPO Enlarged the Range of Subjects of Preferential Examination
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September 2006

1. Patent Grant Rate Was Published
2. Organization Related to Copyright Requested Extension of Term of Copyright Protection
3. Prime Minister Koizumi Paid a Visit to JPO
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August 2006

1. Full Refund System on Examination Request Fees for Withdrawn Patent Applications
2. Toshiba Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Seeking Compensation for Employee's Inventions
3. Patent Attoneys' Active Roles and Expanding their Services for Protection of Intellectual Properties
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July 2006

1. A Revision to the Examination Guidelines for "Novelty and Inventive Step" of an Invention Having a Limitation by Use
2. Reconsideration of the Intellectual Cluster Creation Project
3. Representative Counters for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Set Up throughout Japan
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June 2006

1. RESULTS OF SURVEY ON INFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN CHINA IS ANNOUNCED
2. GUIDELINE OF PRIOR USER'S RIGHT SYSTEM(CASE REPORT)IS PUBLISHED
3. PARTIAL REVISION OF DESIGN LAW AND ELSEWHERE IS PROCLAIMED
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May 2006

1. Issues on How Framework of Regulating Trades of Goods Constituting an Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights Should Be Arranged Is Now Announced
2. Imports of Imitation Goods by Individuals Will Be Restricted
3. Japan Law Firms Are Now Increasing The Number of Their Employment of Chinese Attorneys
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April 2006

1. Draft Revision of Examination Guidelines Regarding Use Invention Is Announced
2. Agreement regarding Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters Was Concluded
3. “Known Data Numbers” Are Cited in Reference Sections of Design Gazettes
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March 2006

1. Draft bill released: Intellectually-property laws to be amended for enhancing protection of intellectual property rights
2. Law Revision to Impose Severe Punishment on Copied Products
3. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Establishes Its Own IP Strategy Committee
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February 2006

1. OBJECTION RAISED BY COMPANIES AGAINST GOVERNMENT URGING REDUCTION OF FILING REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION
2. PATENT OF BLUE LED WAIVED
3. APPLICANTS URGED TO DISCLOSE RESULTS OF PRIOR ART SEARCH
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January 2006

1. Agenda Set for Expeditious Patent Examination
2. Japan Patent Attorney Association Comments on Agenda for Expeditious and Efficient Patent Examination
3. Patent Examination Fee Fully Refunded in Case of Withdrawal of Examination Request
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