TOKYO, Aug. 17 -- Japan Patent Office issued the following news:
In the JPO Quick Reads, MATSUSHITA Koichi, Director-General, Patent Examination Department, briefly introduces the JPO initiatives and information on every Monday!
The JPO and the OEPM deepened their understanding of each other's patent examination practices!
From June 8 to 12, 2026, the JPO held an Examiner Exchange Program with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (Spanish: Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas, OEPM).
The JPO previously held Examiner Exchange Programs with the OEPM from 2011 to 2013 and hosted another program last year by inviting OEPM examiners to Japan. In this year's program, the JPO dispatched its examiners to the OEPM in Madrid.
Participants in the program were five JPO examiners and six OEPM examiners, each in charge of one of five technical fields: dynamo-electronic machines and control; heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineering; medical devices; genetic engineering; and cell engineering. They exchanged information on search methods for prior art, including non-patent literature, and on the application of examination guidelines in day-to-day practice. They also exchanged views on the use of AI in patent examination and on approaches to AI-related applications.
The JPO will continue to strengthen cooperation in patent examination with overseas IP offices!
Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the JPO attended the WIPO Assemblies 2026!
The Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO were held from July 7 to 15, 2026.
At the opening session, the JPO Commissioner KASAI delivered a General Statement on behalf of Japan, wherein he congratulated Mr. Daren Tang on his reappointment for the second term as Director General and mentioned that the intellectual property system plays a crucial role in contributing toward global economic growth and the resolution of social issues. He also expressed his gratitude to WIPO for the stable operation and continued improvement of international filing and registration systems. Furthermore, he highlighted Japan's support for WIPO's initiatives through the Funds-in-Trust Japan IP Global*1. These initiatives include efforts to promote the utilization of the IP system by SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs to foster sustainable global economic growth, as well as initiatives under WIPO GREEN to address the global challenge of climate change.
In addition, to confirm JPO's continued cooperation with IP offices and to exchange information on the latest initiatives, Commissioner KASAI and Deputy Commissioner YASUDA met with Leaders of IP offices and other related parties from more than 20 countries and regions. In particular, the JPO signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the OEPM (Spain) on cooperation in the field of intellectual property.
The JPO will continue to cooperate with WIPO and its member states to promote international initiatives in the field of intellectual property!
*1: The JPO has been supporting WIPO's initiatives through voluntary fund, known as the Funds-in-Trust Japan IP Global since 1987.
Let me share an update on the JPO's cooperation with Vietnam!
On June 19, 2026, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Commissioner KASAI of the JPO held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Luu Hoang Long, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPVN). They exchanged views on future cooperation between the two offices, including cooperation on patent examination, such as the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).
On the same day, Commissioner KASAI also held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Tran Huu Linh, Director General of the Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development (DMS) of Vietnam. They exchanged views on the initiatives by both authorities aimed at strengthening measures against intellectual property rights infringements in markets and online.
The JPO will further enhance its cooperation with Vietnam in the field of intellectual property!
The JPO was honored to host a meeting of the trial and appeal board leaders from the IP5 offices!
On June 17, 2026, the IP5 Trial and Appeal Boards High-Level Meeting was held in Sendai, Japan, hosted by the Japan Patent Office (JPO).
At the meeting, the trial and appeal boards of the IP5 offices introduced their legal systems and practices as well as recent developments. They also exchanged their experiences to improve quality and enhance operational efficiency through the use of AI and digitalization in trial and appeal departments.
The JPO proposed the "IP5 Administrative Judge Exchange Program" as an initiative related to trial and appeal practices, with the aim of further strengthening cooperation among IP5 offices. The offices agreed to continue the discussion toward its implementation.
The JPO will continue to strengthen cooperation with other IP offices in the field of trials and appeals!
I am delighted to present the PPH 20th Anniversary Forum!
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), the PPH 20th Anniversary Forum was held on June 12, 2026, in Tokyo, as a side event of the 19th IP5 Heads of Office Meeting. In addition to the IP5 Offices, WIPO and IP5 Industry, the forum was attended by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). Participants reflected on the history of the PPH and exchanged views on further improvements and development of the PPH in the years ahead.
On a personal note, I was involved in the launch of the PPH as one of the JPO representatives twenty years ago. I am delighted to see that what began as a bilateral PPH between Japan and the U.S. has now expanded globally, with so many 'vehicles' traveling along this worldwide Highway.
You can watch the highlights of the forum here:
JPO will continue to work with other IP offices, relevant organizations, and users to further advance the PPH!
[Last updated 17 August 2026]
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
