Japan - Apply for Patent

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Procedure

Following listed steps explains the process that are involved in applying for a patent.

1. As a first step the applicant should search any existing patent that has been already filed that is similar to the one that is planned to be filed. The Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) on the website of the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) is a database for patent information search free of charge. Following is the link where you will be able to search for the registered patent : Registered Patent
2. After the search for a existing similar patent has been made, if there isnt any patent that has been already filed similar to the one that you are planning to file, you can make an application to file for a patent.
3. The information about the patent will be advertised in appropriate journals and papers and a certain amount of time will be provided to check whether there is any objections, if there isnt any the patent will be validated by appropriate personals and will be forwarded for filing.
   
   

Following link provides a flowchart representation of the procedure : Flowchart Representation

More information about filing for a patent can be obtained from the following link : More Information on applying

Following link provides contact information of appropriate offices that has to be contacted : Japan Patent Office (JPO) Contact Information

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Required Documents

Note : All applications should be filled and made in Japanese. If you submit your description, claims, drawings and abstract in any language other than Japanese, you will need to submit the Japanese translations of those documents within one year and four months from the earlier of the following two dates: (1) the filing date or (2) the priority date (if applicable).

• Application form for a patent, along with a description, claims, drawings (if necessary), and an abstract.

Office Locations & Contacts

Following link provides contact information of appropriate offices that has to be contacted : Japan Patent Office (JPO) Contact Information

Eligibility

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Fees

Following link provides you the fee information related : Fees Information

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Application forms that can be used for this purpose : Application Forms

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

Please provide instructions on obtaining the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

This procedure provides you information about applying for a patent in Japan.

Information which might help

Enter other informations which might help

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

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Others

More information which might help people.