PATENTS
Patents/utility models
July Issue [General] Newsletter Regarding Applications Containing Multiple Claims In Japan, since April 2022, multiple claims have not been permitted in patent applications and utility model registration applications. On June 8, 2026, it was announced that in fiscal year 2025, patent applications containing multiple claims as a whole would no longer be permitted.
June Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter Japan Patent Office: Update on List of Regional Collective Trademark Registrations and Number of Applications and Registrations by Prefecture The Japan Patent Office website has been updated with a list of regional collective trademark registrations and the number of applications and registrations by prefecture. New Registrations The following three registrations have been made: Miyoshi Pione (Trademark Registration No. 7022913)
June Issue [General] Newsletter FY2025 Field-Specific Patent Application Technology Trends Survey Results On April 23, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) published the results of its FY2025 Field-Specific Patent Application Technology Trends Survey. Four cutting-edge technology themes expected to create and expand markets (nuclear fusion power generation, low-carbon fuel engines, lactic acid bacteria-containing foods, cyber attack detection technology - intrusion detection)
May Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter: Update to "Overview of the Design Accelerated Examination and Accelerated Trial System" In March 2026, the Japan Patent Office's website, "Overview of the Design Accelerated Examination and Accelerated Trial System," was updated. We have previously covered this system in our newsletter, but that only covered the accelerated examination aspect. This time, the Japan Patent Office website has been updated.
May Issue [General] Newsletter Examiner Consultations with the Korea Intellectual Property Office and the European Patent Office The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has been conducting examiner consultations with foreign intellectual property offices for many years. These consultations are conducted between the JPO and foreign intellectual property offices, through discussions between examiners from both sides regarding methods for prior art document searches and examination practices, thereby fostering trust.
April Issue [General] Newsletter The 6th Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting was held in Singapore on March 6th, with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Intellectual Property Offices of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states participating. This meeting was the first to be held in person. At this meeting, as in the previous year, the focus was on the "pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields."
April Issue [Legal Affairs] Newsletter: "Unmanaged Copyright Arbitration System" to Begin in April 2026. The unmanaged copyright arbitration system will begin in April 2026. The previous arbitration system for cases where the rights holder is unknown was applicable when "it is unknown who the rights holder is or where they are," but the new system will provide relief in cases where "the copyright holder's contact information is known but they are not responding."
March Issue [Legal] Newsletter Ministry of Finance Announces "Status of Enforcement of Customs Law Violations by Customs Offices Nationwide in 2025" On February 17, 2026, the Ministry of Finance announced the status of enforcement of Customs Law violations detected by customs offices nationwide at airports, ports, etc. in 2025 (Reiwa 7).
March Issue [General] Newsletter Meeting between Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Industry, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office and Deputy Commissioner of Patent Technology and Director General of WIPO On January 29, 2026, a meeting was held between Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ochi.
February Issue [Legal] Newsletter Japan Patent Office publishes "Explanation of Classification of Goods and Services [Compatible with International Classification 13-2026 Edition]" In January 2026, the Japan Patent Office published "Explanation of Classification of Goods and Services [Compatible with International Classification 13-2026 Edition]". This document aims to help users understand the classification of goods and services and their indication in trademark registration.