FAQ

Q. Must application for patent be filed in Japanese language?

A. Application for patent can be filed in English, in which case a Japanese translation must then be filed within 14 months from the priority date. The official fee for filing an application in English is ￥26,000, compared to ￥15,000 for filing an application in Japanese.

Q. How does the examination for a patent application to JPO proceed?

A. The examination procedure for a patent application commences after filing of a Request for Examination. A Request for Examination should be filed within 3 years from the Japanese filing date or PCT international filing date. This is a strict deadline; if a Request for Examination is not filed by the deadline, the application will be deemed permanently and irrevocably withdrawn. Please refer to the flowchart below for the examination procedure after the commencement of an examination.