Trends in Japanese patent & trademark applications – JPO Annual Report 2022

• The Japan Patent Office (JPO) released an annual report 2022 on the recent situation of Japanese intellectual property trends. We have picked up some of the topics related to patents only this year which we think are of interest to our overseas clients.

1) Trends in numbers of Japanese patent applications

The number of Japanese patent applications filed with the JPO surpassed 300,000 till 2019, but it fell below 300,000 (288,472) first time in the past decade. In 2021, the number slightly increased but still below 300,000 (289,200).

In 2021, 289,200 patent applications were filed in Japan in total, and among that, 216,418 were domestic patent applications and 72,782 were PCT international applications.

2) Trends in numbers of Japanese patent applications and PCT applications

The number of PCT international applications filed before the Japan Patent Office as the WIPO receiving office slightly decreased. Meanwhile, the number of PCT national phase entries into Japan is consistently on the rise.

3) Examination Speed

The JPO has made great efforts to accelerate patent examination procedures, and in 2020, they achieved the following average pendency from the filing of requests for examination:

• 10.1 months until First Action; and
• 15.2 months until Final Action.

Although the average pendency is slightly longer than that achieved in 2018 (1) 9.3 months/ (2) 14.1 moths), the examination speed at the JPO is still fast among the IP5.

4) Allowance Rate

The allowance rate in Japan has remained very high for the last five years:

• 74.6% in 2017
• 75.3% in 2018
• 74.9% in 2019
• 74.4% in 2020
• 74.8% in 2021

We will keep you informed of any developments regarding the patent and trademark situations in Japan.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@allegropat.com

Source: JPO Status Report 2022 https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/resources/report/statusreport/2022/