On April 10, 2024, the Japan Patent Office announced that it had selected three regions, Aomori Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Kobe City, as IP priority areas through public solicitation for the “IP Management Support Model Region Creation Project,” which will newly start in fiscal 2024.
Under this project, the JPO will designate local governments that are eager to promote local corporate growth and regional revitalization through the use of intellectual property, and dispatch project producers to these areas.
On March 28, 2024, the JPO published Status Report 2024.
In FY2023, 164,061 trademark applications were filed in Japan, down 6,214 from the previous year. Of these, 17,397 were filed via the Madrid Protocol, and 146,664 were filed directly.
On March 8, 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the implementation of "push-type support," in which the JPO will proactively approach startups and their agents who have filed patent applications by phone or e-mail to introduce various support measures and promote their use.
On February 22, 2024, the JPO announced that it has signed a "Statement of Cooperation in the Field of Support to SMEs, Startups and Entrepreneurs" in developing countries.
In collaboration with WIPO, the program aims to provide support to small and medium enterprises, startups, and entrepreneurs through the Japan Fund, a voluntary contribution to WIPO, and ultimately to a total of 1,000 individuals.
On January 5, 2024, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced that the requirements for registration of trademarks that include the name of another person will be easesed based on the "Law for Partial Amendment of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, etc." promulgated on June 14, 2023.
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