Extension Of The Japan-U.S. Joint Trial Search Program And Simplification Of Application Procedure

The Japan-U.S. Collaborative Examination Pilot Program (Japan-U.S. Collaborative Examination) is an initiative under which Japanese and American patent examiners conduct their own searches of inventions for which patent applications have been filed in both countries. After sharing their findings and opinions, the respective patent examiners send their initial examination results earlier and at the same time. This initiative is expected to enable companies to improve predictability in the timing of examination and provide for the acquisition of stronger and more stable rights for inventions for which patent applications have been filed in Japan and the U.S., based on the results of the searches by Japanese and American examiners.