November [General] Newsletter

Hosting international symposiums, etc.

On October 15, 2024, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Tokyo University of Science co-hosted the "Trilateral Patent Office Heads of Departments and Users Meeting International Symposium: Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer: Building a Growing Innovation Ecosystem."

The international symposium was also sponsored by the European Patent Office (EPO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as user groups from Japan, the United States and Europe: the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the American Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and Business Europe (BE).

At the international symposium, the following panel discussions (1) and (2) were held with the objective of "discussing the actual state of various intellectual property management practices in the process of transferring technologies developed at universities to industry from the respective perspectives of Japan, the U.S., Europe, industry, government and academia."

(1) Social implementation of academic technologies through startups: Challenges and solutions for success

(2) Intellectual Property Management for Innovation Ecosystems

In the panel discussion (1), moderated by Vice President Iida of Tokyo University of Science, the panelists, Commissioner Ono of the JPO, Commissioner Vidal of the USPTO, Distinguished Professor Nakauchi of Tokyo University of Science, and Mr. Wainikka of BE, shared their respective knowledge and expertise on efforts to create an environment for the social implementation of academic technologies through startups.

In the panel discussion (2), moderated by Vice President Ohshima of Tokyo University of Science, the panelists, Dr. Campinos, President of the EPO, Dr. Jorgensen, Deputy Director General of WIPO, Dr. Wakashiro, Vice President of JIPA, Mr. Anastasi, President of AIPLA, and Mr. Staud, President of IPO, introduced the current situation of intellectual property management for innovation ecosystems in each country.

An innovation ecosystem refers to a cycle in which diverse organizations from industry, government, and academia come together to create new technologies and innovations.

In addition, on the day before the International Symposium, on October 14, 2024, the Trilateral Heads of Patent Offices and Users Meeting was held among the JPO, USPTO, EPO, and the trilateral user groups (IT3: Industry Trilateral) of Japan, the United States, and Europe, specifically, JIPA, AIPLA, IPO, and BE. Furthermore, following the Trilateral Heads of Patent Offices and Users Meeting, the 42nd Trilateral Heads of Patent Offices Meeting was held among the JPO, USPTO, and EPO.

At the Trilateral Patent Office Heads and Users Meeting and the Trilateral Patent Office Heads' Meeting, discussions were held on how IP offices can support the strategic integration of IP and management under the theme of SDG Goal 9, "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure," which is similar to the purpose of the international symposium.

Based on the results of the above-mentioned international symposium and the Trilateral Meeting of Heads of Patent Offices, it is expected that efforts will be made in the future in Japan, the United States and Europe to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia and promote the creation of an innovation ecosystem.

 

Bilateral Meeting between the Japan Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization

On October 15, 2024, in conjunction with the international symposium, a bilateral meeting was held between Commissioner Ono and Deputy Patent Engineer Yasuda of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Deputy Director General Lisa Jorgensen of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

At the bilateral meeting, the JPO conveyed to WIPO its intention to cooperate with WIPO's activities on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). In addition, to demonstrate that the JPO will seriously consider the introduction of ePCT at the JPO, a Joint Statement of Intent was signed by JPO Deputy Commissioner Yasuda.

Here, DE&I activities are activities that promote diversity, fairness, and inclusion with the aim of promoting innovation by utilizing diverse human resources, including women and young people.

ePCT is a browser-based system that provides a variety of functions in a highly secure environment for applicants, Offices, and third parties. By introducing ePCT, it becomes possible to submit PCT international applications to participating receiving Offices. In addition, each Office can use the various online functions provided by WIPO on ePCT, which will allow for efficient computerization of operations.

Therefore, it is expected that the JPO will promote DE&I activities in the future. In addition, the JPO is expected to proceed with the introduction of ePCT.

 

Publication of FY2024 User Evaluation Survey Report on the Quality of Patent Examinations

The Japan Patent Office has been conducting a user evaluation survey on the quality of patent examinations since 2012. On September 25, 2024, the report on the user evaluation survey on the quality of patent examinations for fiscal year 2024 was published.

The report summarizes the results of a survey conducted between April and June 2024 in which users were asked to evaluate the quality of patent examinations for domestic applications and international searches for PCT applications in the previous fiscal year 2023 on a five-point scale: "satisfactory," "relatively satisfactory," "average," "relatively unsatisfactory," and "unsatisfactory." The users were selected from applicants and agents of patent applications filed in 2022.

The overall evaluation of the quality of patent examinations in domestic applications (overall evaluation) was 97.4% for those rated "average" or higher, and 60.9% for those rated "satisfied" or "relatively satisfied." In addition, the overall evaluation of the quality of international searches, etc. in PCT applications (overall evaluation) was 96.8% for those rated "average" or higher, and 59.4% for those rated "higher." These results did not change significantly from the results of the 2023 survey.

After analyzing the results of the 2024 survey, the Japan Patent Office found that in domestic applications, the "uniformity of judgments" among examiners, in particular the "uniformity of judgments on Article 29, Paragraph 2 (inventive step)," had a large impact on the overall evaluation and received a low relative evaluation, and therefore indicated its intention to prioritize these issues.

Therefore, going forward, efforts are expected to be made to improve the uniformity of judgments, such as by having examiners share their knowledge through discussions between each other.

For more details on the above-mentioned investigation report, please refer to the PDF file of the investigation report available on the Japan Patent Office website (https://www.jpo.go.jp/resources/report/user/document/2024-tokkyo/2024-tokkyo.pdf)Please refer to.

 

Newsletter translated into English

 

International Symposium and Related Events

On October 15, 2024, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Tokyo University of Science jointly hosted the “Trilateral Conference International Symposium – IP and Technology Transfer: Challenges and Successes with the Collaboration Framework among Academia-Industry-IP Offices”.

The International Symposium was also sponsored by the European Patent Office (EPO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), as well as by Japanese, American and European user groups the Japanese Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the American Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and Business Europe (BE).

At the International Symposium, panel discussions (1) and (2) below were held with the objective of “discussing, from the respective standpoints of Japan, the United States, Europe, and industry-government-academia, the actual situation regarding various IP management in the process of technology transfer to industry”.

(1) Social Implementation of Technology developed by Academic Research Institutions through Startups – Challenges and Solutions for Success

(2) Intellectual Property Management for Innovation Ecosystems

In panel discussion (1), moderated by Vice President Iida of Tokyo University of Science, the panelists, Director Ono of the JPO, Director Vidal of the USPTO, Professor Emeritus Nakauchi of Tokyo University of Science, and Ms. Wainikka of BE, shared their knowledge on efforts to create an environment for social implementation of academically-developed technologies through startups.

In panel discussion (2), moderated by Vice President Oshima of the Tokyo University of Science, panelists Mr. Campinos, President of the EPO, Ms. Jorgensen, Deputy Director General of WIPO, Mr. Wakashiro, Vice President of JIPA, Mr. Anastasi of AIPLA and Mr. Staudt of IPO, introduced the situations of IP management for innovation ecosystems in their respective countries.

“Innovation ecosystem” refers to a cycle in which diverse organizations across industry, government, and academia work together to create new technologies and innovations.

On October 14, 2024, the day before the International Symposium, a Trilateral Meeting Of Patent Office Directors and Users was held between the JPO, USPTO, EPO, and the trilateral user organizations (IT3: Industry Trilateral), specifically, the JIPA, AIPLA , IPO, and BE. Further to this meeting, the 42nd Trilateral Meeting of Patent Office Directors was also held between the JPO, USPTO and EPO.

At the Trilateral Meeting Of Patent Office Directors and Users and the Trilateral Meeting of Patent Office Directors, discussions were held on how the IP Offices can support the strategic integration of IP and management under the theme of SDG Goal 9, “create a foundation for industrial and technological innovation,” which is similar to the objective of the International Symposium mentioned above.

Based on the results of the above-mentioned international symposium and Trilateral Meeting of Patent Office Directors, it is expected that in the future, Japan, the US, and Europe will promote initiatives to strengthen cooperation between industry and academia and to promote the construction of innovation ecosystems.

 

Bilateral Meeting between the JPO and World Intellectual Property Organization

On October 15, 2024, in conjunction with the International Symposium, a bilateral meeting was held between Commissioner Ono and Patent Engineer Yasuda of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and Ms. Lisa Jorgensen, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO ).

At this bilateral meeting, the JPO's cooperation with WIPO's activities related to DE&I (Diversity Equity & Inclusion) was conveyed to WIPO. In addition, a Joint Statement of Intent by WIPO and the JPO was signed by Mr. Yasuda, JPO Patent Engineer, to indicate the JPO's full-fledged consideration of the introduction of ePCT.

Here, activities related to DE&I are those that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion with the goal of leveraging diverse human resources, including women and young people, to drive innovation.

ePCT is a browser-based system that provides various functions in a highly secure environment for applicants, offices, and third parties. ePCT enables the submission of PCT international applications to participating receiving offices. In addition, each office will be able to use the various online functions provided by WIPO on ePCT, thereby promoting efficient digitization of its work.

Therefore, activities related to DE&I are expected to be promoted in the JPO in the future. In addition, the JPO is expected to proceed with the introduction of ePCT.

 

Report on FY2024 Annual User Satisfaction Survey on Patent Examination Quality

The JPO has been conducting user satisfaction surveys on the quality of patent examinations since 2012, and on September 25, 2024, the Report on FY2024 Annual User Satisfaction Survey on Patent Examination Quality was issued.

The discussed report summarizes the results of a survey conducted from April to June 2024 in which users were asked to rate, on a 5-point scale of “satisfactory,” “relatively satisfactory,” “normal,” “relatively unsatisfactory,” and “ unsatisfactory”, the quality of patent examinations for domestic applications and international searches, etc. for PCT applications in FY2023. The mentioned users were selected from applicants and agents of patent applications filed in 2022.

Regarding the evaluation of the overall quality of patent examinations for domestic applications (overall evaluation), 97.4% of the respondents gave an evaluation of “normal” or higher, and 60.9% of the respondents gave a positive evaluation (“satisfactory” or “relatively As for the evaluation (overall evaluation) of the quality of international searches, etc. in PCT applications, 96.8% of the respondents gave an evaluation of “normal” or higher, and 59.4% of the respondents gave a positive evaluation . These results were not significantly changed from the results of the 2023 survey.

As a result of analyzing the results of the mentioned FY2024 survey, the JPO found that “homogeneity of judgment” among examiners in domestic applications, especially “homogeneity of judgment regarding Article 29(2) (inventive step),” had a significant impact on the overall evaluation, and was itself evaluated relatively poorly. Therefore, the JPO has indicated that it will give priority to addressing this issue.

It is expected that efforts to improve the homogeneity of judgments, such as the sharing of knowledge among examiners through consultations, will be promoted in the future.

For detailed information, please refer to the English version of the report on the JPO website.

https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/resources/report/user/document/2024-tokkyo/2024-tokkyo-report_e.pdf