September [General] Newsletter

Patent businessPolitical Annual Report 2026year edition

　The Japan Patent Office announced on July 27 that it had compiled the 2026 edition of its Annual Report on Patent Administration.

　According to the 2026 Annual Report on Patent Administration, the number of patent applications filed with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) remained relatively stable since 2020, but in 2025 it increased by 16.8% year-on-year to 358,317. Furthermore, the number of international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT international applications) filed with the JPO as the receiving office was 46,305 in 2025, a decrease from 46,751 in the previous year (2024), but still remaining at a high level. The number of requests for examination remained stable, at 223,235 in 2025.

　Furthermore, the Japan Patent Office has set a target for fiscal year 2024 and beyond to maintain an average patenting time of 14 months or less even in fiscal year 2033, ten years from now.

　According to the 2026 Annual Report on Patent Administration, the average "time to patenting" for patents in fiscal year 2025 was 13.2 months, and the average "time to first examination notice" for patents in fiscal year 2025 was 9.4 months. Therefore, the "time to patenting" and "time to first examination notice" in fiscal year 2025 were maintained at a high level, similar to the average "time to patenting" of 13.0 months and "time to first examination notice" of 9.1 months for patents in fiscal year 2024.

　According to the 2026 Annual Report on Patent Administration, the number of patent registrations has remained around 18 in recent years. Furthermore, the ratio of patent registrations to patent applications (patent registration rate) has been on an upward trend, reaching 76.5% in 2025.

　These trends suggest that applicants are becoming more selective in their patent applications, and that companies and other organizations are steadily shifting from quantity to quality in their intellectual property strategies.

　The number of patent applications from Japan to overseas remained relatively stable since 2014, but has been on a downward trend since 2020. The number of patent registrations in Japan by foreigners has been increasing since 2020 in the United States, Europe, China, and South Korea, with the US accounting for 35.1%, Europe 29.0%, China 16.3%, and South Korea 12.7%.

Office of Intellectual Property of Thailand (DIP)Practical training for patent examiners

　Between July 15th and 21st, 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) conducted training for patent examiners at the Department of Intellectual Property of Thailand (DIP) for a total of five days, serving as a follow-up to the patent examination practice training for new employees.

　In addition, JPO conducted practical training in patent examination practices in the green technology field for DIP patent examiners over a total of three days from July 15th to 17th, 2026, and practical training in patent examination practices in the chemical field over a total of three days between July 17th and 21st, 2026.

　Furthermore, the JPO had also conducted similar training for DIP patent examiners in 2023 and 2024.

　In the aforementioned training, lectures were given in a face-to-face format between the instructor and the participants, using case studies based on actual cases, to cover methods of prior art searches in patent examination and the determination of novelty and inventive step.

　The trainees gave the following impressions about the training:

　Based on the results of the aforementioned training, it is believed that companies that have obtained patents in Japan in the fields of green technology and chemistry may benefit from the following advantages when they also aim to obtain patents in Thailand.

By disseminating the JPO's examination methods to patent examiners in developing countries overseas, the credibility of JPO examinations will improve, and the likelihood of inventions patented by the JPO being patented in Thailand will increase. In addition, the examination capabilities of Thai examiners will improve, and examinations will be expedited. As a result, companies that have obtained patents in Japan will be able to obtain the same patents in Thailand smoothly and quickly.

JPO AIPublication of the "Vision"

　On July 27, 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) formulated and published the "JPO AI Vision," which outlines its basic direction of promoting the use of AI while appropriately addressing risks under the principle of human-centeredness, and providing high-quality and prompt administrative services.

　In the future, in line with the aforementioned "JPO AI Vision," the introduction and utilization of AI in the Japan Patent Office's administrative services, such as patent examination, is expected to be promoted.

　The contents of the aforementioned "JPO AI Vision" are as follows:

aims

• Providing high-quality and prompt administrative services

Responsible use of AI

- Strengthening the foundation of the AI ​​utilization ecosystem

Key Concept ①: Promoting the Use of AI

- Accelerating the use of AI: Promote the active use of AI.

- Optimal AI utilization based on the latest technological trends: Continuously monitor the progress of AI and explore appropriate and effective ways to utilize AI.

- Agile AI utilization: Regularly review the AI ​​utilization plan.

Key Concept ②: Human-Centered AI

- Staff involvement: Staff members will verify and make final decisions regarding the AI's output.

Transparency: Disclose necessary and feasible information regarding processes utilizing AI, etc.

- Accountability: The Japan Patent Office is accountable for providing information based on AI-generated services.

Key Concept ③: Appropriate Risk Management

- Prevention of confidential information leakage: Take measures to prevent the leakage of confidential information from the AI ​​output results.

• Risk assessment: Use AI to identify risks and conduct preliminary studies on countermeasures.

Key Concept ④: Collaboration with Stakeholders

- Communication with users: Engage in continuous communication with users of intellectual property in Japan.

- Collaboration with overseas intellectual property offices, etc.: To explore efficient ways of utilizing AI through collaboration with overseas intellectual property offices and sharing of best practices.

• Coordination with domestic institutions: Ensure consistency with the policies and directions of the government and related institutions.

- Exchange of opinions with external experts: We aim to utilize AI more effectively by exchanging opinions with external experts on AI and receiving their advice.

Key Concept 5: Building an Organization for AI Utilization

- Business and organizational reform: Reform business processes and organizations to enable efficient use of AI and to allow for free-thinking and discussion.

- Establishing AI governance: Creating an organization to centrally manage matters related to AI, and appointing a person responsible for AI.

- Human resource development: To improve the AI ​​literacy of all staff members while developing AI specialists who can introduce new AI technologies as needed.

INPITKyushu Headquarters (INPIT-KYUSHU) Opening

　The National Institute of Industrial Property Information and Training (hereinafter referred to as "INPIT") will open INPIT Kyushu Headquarters (INPIT-KYUSHU) on October 1, 2026, in Fukuoka City (specifically, Tenjin Business Center II (1-10-10 Tenjin, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)) as a new regional block base.

　This initiative, promoted by the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and INPIT, aims to expand INPIT's functions to regional areas, with the goal of ensuring that intellectual property, a crucial management resource, is effectively utilized by local companies in order to connect innovative products and services to the creation of added value in the region. The opening of INPIT-KYUSHU marks the second regional base nationwide, following "INPIT-KANSAI" in the Kinki region.

　INPIT-KYUSHU aims to support intellectual property management in the Kyushu region and improve the earning power of companies and other organizations by primarily carrying out the activities described in 1. to 3. below.

1. We provide advanced and prompt support from "intellectual property strategy experts."
2. We will strengthen cooperation with relevant organizations responsible for supporting businesses, including the "Intellectual Property Management Support Network," local governments, support organizations, and financial institutions, to promote broad-area and comprehensive support for businesses.
3. We will work to improve intellectual property literacy by communicating the importance of intellectual property utilization in academia to local universities and research institutions.

　The "intellectual property strategy expert" described in item 1 above refers to a professional support person with advanced knowledge of intellectual property strategy and extensive practical experience.

　The "Intellectual Property Management Support Network" described in section 2 above is a network established by five organizations—JPO, the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, INPIT, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry—to strengthen and enhance intellectual property management support for local small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.

Newsletter translated into English

Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2026

On July 27, 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced that it had compiled the Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2026.

According to the Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2026, the number of patent applications filed with the JPO had previously remained at the same level since 2020, but in 2025, it increased by 16.8% year-on-year to 358,317. In addition, the number of international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty with the JPO as the receiving office (PCT international applications) was 46,305 in 2025. Although this is a decrease from 46,751 in the previous year (2024), it remains at a high level. The number of requests for examination has remained flat, at 223,235 in 2025.

Furthermore, as a goal for fiscal year 2024 and beyond, the JPO set a target of maintaining the average “period to patent acquisition” within 14 months for 10 years (until fiscal 2033).

According to the Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2026, the average “period to patent acquisition” in fiscal year 2025 was 13.2 months, and the average “period to the first notice of examination results” in fiscal year 2025 was 9.4 months. of 13.0 months and the average ” period to the first notice of examination results ” of 9.1 months in fiscal year 2024.

According to the Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2026, the number of patent registrations has hovered around 180,000 in recent years. In addition, the ratio of patent registrations to the number of patent filings (patent registration rate) is on an upward trend, reaching 76.5% in 2025.

These trends suggest that applicants are becoming more selective with their patent applications and that the shift from quantity to quality in intellectual property strategies at companies and other entities is steadily progressing.

The number of patent applications from Japan to other countries had previously remained at almost the same level since 2014, but has been on a downward trend since 2020. for 12.7%.

Patent Examination Practice Training for Examiners of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Thailand

For a total of five days between July 15 and 21, 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) conducted training for patent examiners of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of Thailand, which serves as a follow-up to the patent examination practice training for new examiners.

At the same time, the JPO conducted patent examination practice training in the field of green technology for three days (July 15 to 17, 2026), and patent examination practice training in the field of chemistry for a total of three days (July 17 and 21, 2026), for the patent examiners of the DIP.

The JPO also conducted similar training for the patent examiners of the DIP in 2023 and 2024.

During the training, lectures were provided in a face-to-face format between instructors and trainees on prior art search methodologies in patent examination and the assessment of novelty and inventive step through case studies using actual cases.

Trainees provided feedback on the training, such as the following:

As a result of the training, when a company that has acquired a patent in Japan aims to acquire a patent in Thailand in the fields of green technology and chemistry, the following advantages may arise:

･Disseminating JPO examination methodologies to patent examiners in developing countries overseas enhances the reliability of JPO examinations. This increases the likelihood that an invention patented at the JPO will be patented in Thailand as-is.

･In addition, the examination capabilities of Thai examiners will be improved, leading to faster examinations. As a result, companies that have acquired patents in Japan will be able to smoothly and quickly acquire the patents in Thailand as well.

Publication of the “JPO AI Vision”

On July 27, 2026, the Japan Patent Office formulated and published the “JPO AI Vision,” which outlines the basic direction of promoting AI utilization while appropriately addressing risks under human-centric principles, in order to provide high-quality and prompt administrative services.

Going forward, the introduction and utilization of AI are expected to be promoted in the JPO's administrative services, such as examination, in accordance with the “JPO AI Vision.”

The details of the “JPO AI Vision” are as follows:

Goals

･Provision of high-quality and prompt administrative services

･Responsible utilization of AI

･Strengthening the foundation of the AI ​​utilization ecosystem

Key Concept 1: Promotion of AI Utilization

･Acceleration of AI utilization：Promotion of active AI utilization.

･Optimal AI utilization based on the latest technological trends: Continuous monitoring of developments in AI and seeking of appropriate and effective ways to utilize AI.

･Agile AI utilization：Reviewing AI utilization plans as needed.

Key Concept 2: Human-Centric AI

･Involvement of staff: Having staff verify and make final decisions on the output results of AI.

･Transparency: Disclosing necessary and possible information regarding the processes in which AI is utilized.

･Accountability: Ensuring the JPO fulfills its accountability for services based on information generated by AI.

Key Concept 3: Appropriate Response to Risks

･Prevention of confidential information leakage: Taking measures to prevent the leakage of confidential information from AI output results.

･Risk assumption：Identifying risks associated with AI and conduct preliminary reviews on countermeasures.

Key Concept 4: Cooperation with Stakeholders

･Communication with users：Engaging in continuous communication with users of intellectual property and other services in Japan.

･Cooperation with overseas IP offices, etc.：Seeking efficient ways of AI utilization through cooperation with overseas IP offices and sharing best practices.

･Cooperation with domestic institutions：Ensuring consistency with the policies and directions of the government and related institutions.

･Exchange of opinions with external experts: Exchanging opinions with and receiving advice from external experts on AI to aim for more effective AI utilization.

Key Concept 5: Organization Building for AI Utilization

･Reform of operations and organization：Reforming operations and the organization to enable efficient utilization of AI, as well as examination and discussion with free thinking.

･Establishment of AI governance: Forming an organization that centrally manages AI-related matters and designing persons responsible for AI.

･Human resource development: Fostering AI specialists who can introduce new AI technologies as needed, while striving to improve the overall AI literacy of staff.

Establishment of INPIT Kyushu Headquarters (INPIT-KYUSHU)

On October 1, 2026, the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (hereinafter referred to as 'INPIT') will establish the INPIT Kyushu Headquarters (INPIT-KYUSHU) in Fukuoka City (specifically at the Tenjin Business Center II, 1-10-10 Tenjin, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) as a new regional hub.

This is part of the regional expansion initiative of INPIT's functions, promoted by the JPO and INPIT, which aims to ensure that intellectual property, an important management resource, is effectively utilized by regional companies to link innovative products and services to local value creation. The establishment of INPIT-KYUSHU is the second regional hub established nationwide, following “INPIT-KANSAI” in the Kinki region.

INPIT-KYUSHU aims to support IP management in the Kyushu region and improve the earning power of companies and other entities, mainly by carrying out the activities shown in 1. to 3. below:

The “IP Strategy Experts” described in 1. above are professional support personnel who possess knowledge of advanced IP strategies and abundant practical experience.

The “IP Management Support Network” described in 2. above is a network established by five parties, ie the JPO, the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, INPIT, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to strengthen and enhance IP management support for regional small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.