(NEW) JPO Announced a 15% Increase in Registered Patents from the Previous Year for 2006 On March 29, 2007, JPO announced the results of the number of registered and filed patent applications in Japan for 2006. The number of patents that were registered with the JPO grew by 15% from 2005 for a total of 141,399 patents. The number of filed applications on the other hand dropped by 4.3% with a total of 408,674.►more (April 23, 2007)
　

(NEW) April 18 Marks the 122 Anniversary Since the Japanese Patent Law Went into Effect- April 18^th is designated as "Invention Day" in Japan. This day commemorates the promulgation of Japan’s Patent Monopoly Act which later became the Japanese Patent Law  we know today.►more (April 18, 2007)
　

(NEW) Sharp Settles Employee Invention Suit Over LCD Technology, (Osaka, Japan): A suit that demanded the Japanese consumer electronics maker pay $4.6 million to a former employer for a flat screen TV technology was settled in the Osaka District Court on April 1, 2007. Neither was willing to comment on the amount, but both expressed satisfaction with the agreement.►more (April 16, 2007)
　

(NEW) Spring is Here and The Tenth Annual Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia Runs from April 9 through April 22.►more (April 5, 2007)
　

(NEW) Retail and Wholesale Services Will Be Able to Register Their Service Mark In Japan Effective April 1, 2007►more (February 21, 2007)
　

(NEW) The Japanese Patent Office's New Guidelines to Extend the Period for
Responding to a ‘Notice of Reasons for Refusal’ Takes Effect April 1, 2007►more (February 20, 2007)
　

(NEW) Judge Orders Canon to Pay Additional Compensation to Former Employee In An Employee Invention Suit: A Decision was passed by the Tokyo District Court on January 31,2007, to award former Canon employee 33.53 million yen (US$335K) for a laser beam printer (LBP) technology he invented during his employment with the camera and printer giant.►more (February 5, 2007)
　

(NEW) Agency of Cultural Affairs publishes an overview of latest Copyright Law amendments with regards to the adaptations of IP Multicast in broadcasting►more (December 19, 2006)
　

Hitachi faces another employee-inventor lawsuit worth 200 million yen (US$1.7million)►more (November 22, 2006)
　

U.S. movie company drops request for provisional injunction on bargain-priced DVD sales of movie classics such as the "Roman Holiday"►more (November 21, 2006)

　

IP High Court Dismisses Packaging Lawsuit Against Japanese Generic Drug Companies►more (November 21, 2006)
　

Payment of 163 million yen Ordered as Reasonable Remuneration For Employee Invention in Hitachi Patent Lawsuit►more (October 24, 2006)
　

"Global Trends in IP Strategies in the field of BIO-IT"- Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi, will speak at the BIO-IT Patent Strategy Seminar at Kyushu International Technology Fair 2006 ►more (October 11, 2006)
　

JPO to give full refund on Examination Request Fees- ►more (September 20, 2006)
　

USPTO and JPO to launch a Patent Prosecution Highway- The two offices begin a joint initiative for fast-tracking patent prosecutions. ►more (September 20, 2006)
　

MEXT Announces New Strategies to Foster Partnership Between Japanese Universities And Foreign Companies- The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) announced its strategies to make university research institutions more accessible to foreign corporations for the year 2007. Currently, less than 1% of corporate funded university research in Japan is sponsored by foreign companies, while billions are spent each year by Japanese companies to conduct corporate R&D at foreign universities. The Japanese government has plans to tip the balance. ►more (September 19,2006)
　

"Using Japanese Professionals When Licensing in Japan"- Executive Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi spoke at the annual Licensing Executive Society luncheon on May 9, 2006 about the common licensing practices that may pose difficulties for foreigners doing business in Japan.  ►more [PDF]  (May 19, 2006) 
　

The JPO’s Internet filing system - The JPO’s Internet filing system was released October 2005 makes it possible for International applicants to file patent, trademark and design applications via the internet from anywhere in the world.►more  
　

Japan Patent Translations Network (JPT Net)-Omori & Yaguchi has launched an affiliate program where experienced translators/translation agencies and our patent-related translation jobs can be matched.  ►more
　

New FAQ section- New questions on PCT Japanese national phase entry and Japan's patent examination system are posted. ►more  
　

Interactive Fee Calculator is now available online- Omori & Yaguchi's online fee calculator is designed to provide immediate fee estimates for filing PCT applications entering the Japanese national phase and for filing trademark applications SS in Japan. Tips on how to reduce costs at the time of entry are also posted.  ►more  
　

Newsletter Sign Up- Sign up for a free subscription to the Japan Intellectual Property News.  It is published periodically with updates about Japanese intellectual property laws as well as useful information on new developments in the field.  ►more   
　

BIO 2005 Annual International Convention in Philadelphia- Omori & Yaguchi will be showcasing its expertise at the BIO Annual Convention, the largest gathering of biotechnology leaders in the world. This year, we hope to surpass last year's attendance of more than 17,000. Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi, will take part in the panel discussion entitled, "A Global Perspective of Patent Procurement and Litigation Issues for Biotechnology Inventions."  ►more   
　

JPO Operation during the Japanese "Golden Week" Holiday Period- Most businesses in Japan are closed during the "Golden Week" holiday which is from April 29th (Fri) through  May 5th (Thu) this year. The Japan Patent Office (JPO) and most law firms in Japan will be closed during this time.  If your case deadline falls within these days, the due date will be automatically extended to the next business day following the holiday. More information is available here.  ►more   (April 28, 2005) 
　

Philadelphia International Business Reception- On May 10, 2005, a panel of international companies who have set up operations in the Greater Philadelphia region will discuss their reasons for the move at Philadelphia's Park Hyatt Hotel at the Bellevue. Omori & Yaguchi is one of the few Japanese intellectual property law firms who have established an office in the United States and one of very few Japanese companies in Philadelphia. Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi, shares his reasons for having chosen Philadelphia.  ►more   (April 23, 2005) 
 

"Is Japan on the Verge of a Biotech Boom?"- Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi, shares his perspective on the biotech boom in Japan in Pharma Voice, a trade publication that reaches over 17,000 U.S.-based life-science industry executives.  ►more   (April 1, 2005) 
　

Japanese Film Showcase & Presentation- Omori & Yaguchi presents the Third Annual Japanese Film Showcase & Presentation on Friday, April 15, at the University of Pennsylvania. ►more   (March 26, 2005) 
　

"Japan's Inventors Bite Back"- Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi's comments on an amendment made on Article 35 of the Japanese patent law appeared in a British intellectual property magazine. The article features a story on Japan's employee invention analyses including the high-profile case of Professor Shuji Nakamura's blue LED invention. In the article, the Japanese experience is compared to other countries.  ►more [PDF]  (March 1, 2005) 
 

Boston Patent Law Association Seminar - Senior Partner, Taro Yaguchi, recently spoke on current developments in the Japanese patent law at a seminar organized by the International and Foreign Practice Committee of the Boston Patent Law Association . ►more [PDF]  (March 1, 2005) 
　

Japan's Employee Invention Case Update- An inventor of blue LED and his former employer, Nichia Chemical, reached a court-mediated settlement of 843 million yen ($8.43 million) on January 11, in a high-profile dispute over the patent for the blue light-emitting diode.  ►more  (January 13, 2005) 
　

International Association of Young Lawyers Madrid Seminar (AIJA): Intellectual Property Rights in Labor Relations and Service Provision- Presentation slides on topics related to IP legal issues in the Japanese motor industry, as well as past, present and future trends in preparing employment agreements regarding IP related businesses in Japan, are available. ►more  (October 27, 2004) 
　

(News Release) Omori & Yaguchi's Affiliate and Philadelphia-based Japanese technology licensing company, Japan Technology Group (JTG), will showcase Western companies' technology needs at one of the largest technology trade shows in Japan.  ►more [PDF]  (September 2004) 
　

Madrid Seminar: Intellectual Property Rights in Labor Relations and Service Provision- What are the main conflicts found in labor law regulations, national regulations, and international treaties in governing intellectual property rights for intangible assets created by company employees?  How are these assets treated in various sectors of the economy including telecommunication, the auto and technology industries, and in higher education?  Omori & Yaguchi's senior partner and Japanese patent attorney, Taro Yaguchi, along with other experienced practitioners in the fields of IP, labor law, and various industries, will explore possible solutions for balancing employment relations with the protection of intellectual creations.  The seminar will take place between October 21 and 23 in Madrid, Spain, and is sponsored by the International Association of Young Lawyers. ►more [PDF 169KB]  (September 9, 2004) 
　

Japan Intellectual Property News- The summer edition of our newsletter is now available online.  The new edition features frequently asked questions about Japanese patent law such as, " Is it possible to reinstate patent rights if the applicant fails to enter the Japanese national phase within the 30-month time limit?"  To read the entire summer issue of Japan Intellectual Property News, please click here. [PDF]. (August 10, 2004)
　

Breakfast Seminar Sponsored by the Licensing Executive Society- Part I: The Past/Present/Future of Technology Licensing between Japan and the United States. Part II: How to Reach Key Stakeholders in the Technology Licensing Field in Japan; What are the hurdles when licensing technologies to/from Japanese companies?  Our senior partner and registered patent attorney with extensive experience in  technology licensing in Japan, Taro Yaguchi, will give a presentation at the seminar on Wednesday, August 18 in Philadelphia. ►more  (August 3, 2004)
　

Foreign Patent Practice Update Seminar- Senior Partner and registered Japanese patent attorney, Taro Yaguchi,  will speak on the above topic on Tuesday, June 22, 2004,  at the Foreign Patent Practice Update luncheon seminar in Princeton, New Jersey. The seminar is sponsored by Omori & Yaguchi . ►more (June 7, 2004)
　

Japan Patent Office's Small Entity Type Discount- The Japan Patent Office (JPO) will provide non-Japanese universities with a small entity type discount on Japanese patent examination fees and patent annuities. ►more (May 21, 2004)
　

Technology Licensing Opportunity- Introducing a US patented tube packaging that is integrated with an easy-to-use tube squeezer. ►more