July 9, 2018 [ IP News-Amendment of Acts ]
July 9, 2018 [Information on Intellectual Properties in Japan] Amendment of Acts (effective as of June 9, 2018)

“The Bill for Partial Amendment of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and other Acts”, which was approved by the Cabinet on February 27, 2018, was approved and enacted on May 23, 2018, and the Act was issued on May 30, 2018.


<Patent, Utility Model, Design>
The Novelty Grace Period with respect to patent, utility model, and design was extended from 6 months to 1 year.
The effective date was June 9, 2018.
Please note that an invention published (i.e., which lost novelty) by December 8, 2017 is not subject to the amended Act.
Please refer to the following websites for details:

・With respect to patent and utility model
　http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/e_pae_paa30.htm
・With respect to design
　http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/t_tokkyo_e/design_es-revision.html


<Trademark>
Requirements for filing a divisional trademark application were strengthened.
A divisional application cannot be filed unless the filing fee for the parent application has been paid.
The effective date was June 9, 2018.