Located on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, Japan is an arc-shaped island nation that stretches from northeast to southwest. Japan is a highly developed modern country, the world's third largest economy, with perfect power and telecommunications infrastructure, convenient transportation facilities, large market scale, perfect laws and regulations and credit system.
Japan's patent system has a history of more than 150 years, has accumulated a lot of experience, in the previous article, Xiaowei to introduce you to Japan's invention patents and appearance patents, today I will take you to understand Japan's utility model patents.
1. Application channels
1.Apply directly;
2.Paris Convention Pathway;
3.PCT pathway.
2. Application documents
1.Details of the applicant and inventor: name, address and nationality, etc.;
2.Description, abstract of description, drawings of description, drawings of abstract, claims;
3.Proof of priority (if required);
4.Power of attorney.
3. Form of examination
Formal examination only. The JPO does not conduct substantive examination of utility model patents. After the applicant submits the complete application materials to the National Patent Office of Japan, the National Patent Office of Japan will examine the application, and the examiner only needs to check whether the application meets the formal or basic requirements of the application, and examine the technology, and if the application passes the examination and meets the requirements of the Patent Law, the utility model right is granted.
4. Term of Protection
10 years from the filing date, with annual fees to be paid from the fourth year.
5. Language of application
Japanese. The above is the application system for utility model patents in Japan brought by Xiaowei. It is worth noting that Japanese invention patents and utility model patents can be converted to each other under certain conditions, and Chinese applicants can make full use of this conversion system and enjoy more lenient protection for patent owners in Japan.