PATENTS
Patents/utility models
October Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter Summary of the User Evaluation Survey Report on the Quality of Trademark Examinations in FY2026 The Japan Patent Office has compiled the "User Evaluation Survey Report on the Quality of Trademark Examinations in FY2026" (published in September 2026). This survey assessed the overall quality of trademark examinations conducted by the Japan Patent Office in FY2025, based on feedback from users such as applicants and agents.
October Issue [General] Newsletter The 16th Japan-ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices Meeting and Singapore IP Week 2026 On August 26, the 16th Japan-ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices Meeting was held in Singapore, with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the intellectual property offices of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries participating.
September Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter The Design System Subcommittee (July 29) outlines the direction of design protection In recent years, with the advancement of VR and AR technologies, transactions of 3D models, avatars, and virtual spaces (worlds) in virtual spaces (metaverse) have become more active. In response to this, the Japan Patent Office's Design System Subcommittee, on July 29, outlined the direction of design protection for virtual spaces
September Issue [General] Newsletter: Annual Report on Patent Administration 2026 Edition The Japan Patent Office announced on July 27th that it had compiled the Annual Report on Patent Administration 2026 Edition. According to the Annual Report on Patent Administration 2026 Edition, the number of patent applications filed with the Japan Patent Office had remained flat since 2020, but in 2025 it increased by 16.8% year-on-year to 35