April 25, 2014
Japan Patent Office
The JPO released its “Quality Policy on Patent Examination” (the “Quality Policy”) that the JPO established with the aim to further improve the quality of patent examination.
Based on its Quality Policy, the JPO is dedicated to maintain and even further improve the quality of patent examination, aiming to achieve patent examination of the fastest and utmost quality in the world.
At the end of last March, the JPO successfully achieved its goal to expedite patent examination procedures, aiming to shorten the period of time between the date on which applicants request for examination and the date on which the First Action is notified, to 11 months or less (FA11). From now on, the JPO is dedicated not only to expedite patent examination procedures but also to further improve the quality thereof.
The new released Quality Policy outlines the fundamental principles of quality management. Based on the recognition that globally reliable patents of high quality are important for supporting smooth business expansion worldwide and promoting innovation, the JPO is dedicated to achieve patent examination of the fastest and utmost quality in the world by maintaining and improving the quality of patent examination in accordance with the Quality Policy. The Quality Policy sets forth the following fundamental principles:
We grant robust, broad and valuable patents;
We meet wide-ranging needs and expectations;
We all dedicate ourselves to improving quality, cooperating with concerned persons and parties;
We contribute to improving the quality of patent examination globally:
We continually improve operations;
We raise the knowledge and capabilities of our staff.
In addition, establishing a quality policy as a means to implement world-class quality management is required under the Intellectual Property Strategic Program 2013. Furthermore, the report compiled in February 2014 by the Intellectual Property Committee under the Industrial Structure Council called for establishing a quality policy as a specific action to be taken immediately.
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