1	Revised Japanese Patent Law
2	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2006 Increased opportunities for filing a divisional application. Restriction on an amendment in relation to a divisional application. Prohibition of an amendment switching to　a non-unitary subject matter.
3	Increased opportunities for a divisional application You can file a divisional application after receiving a Notice of Decision of Refusal without filing an ex parte appeal. within 30 days (+60 days for a resident abroad, Current Law) or 3 months (Revision 2008) from receiving the first Notice of Decision of Refusal. You can file a divisional application even after receiving a Notice of Decision of Allowance. within 30 days from receiving a Notice of Decision of Allowance and prior to registration.
4	Increased opportunities for a divisional application
5	Increased opportunities for a divisional application Exception: Decisions of Refusal /Allowance after filing an ex parte appeal are excluded.
6	Increased opportunities for a divisional application Decision of Allowance Before registration, you can file a divisional application. Please kindly inform us of whether or not to file a divisional application. Decision of Refusal Decision of Refusal You have 3 options: 1. appeal 2. appeal and divisional application in parallel 3. divisional application without filing an appeal (New!) .
7	Increased opportunities for a divisional application Applied to applications filed on or after April 1, 2007 A divisional application derived from a parent application filed before April 1, 2007 --> Not Applied
8	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2006 Increased opportunities for filing a divisional application Restriction on an amendment in relation to a divisional application Prohibition of an amendment switching to　a non-unitary subject matter
9	Restriction on an amendment (div.) Amendment of a divisional application (“instant application”) against a first office action may be restricted in the same manner as against a final office action, in case that the reason(s) of rejection to the instant application is/are the same reason(s) as that (those) to a parent application or another divisional application derived from the same parent application (” another application”). Amendment of a parent application (“instant application”) against a first office action may be restricted in the same manner as against a final office action, in case that the reason(s) of rejection to the instant application is/are the same reason(s) as that (those) to a divisional application (“another application”).
10	Restriction on an amendment (div.)
11	Restriction on an amendment (div.) In which case is the instant application restricted?
12	Restriction on an amendment (div.) How are “the same reasons” determined?
13	Restriction on an amendment (div.) Exception : In the event that an applicant was not in situations that he/she could not be aware of the reasons of rejection of “another application when filing a request for examination of the instant application. For example, an applicant receives a notice of reasons of rejection of “another application” ”(e.g. a divisional) after he/she filed a request for examination of the instant application (e.g. a parent).
14	Amendment in relation to a div. application Only 4 types of amendment are allowed when restricted. Canceling the claims Limiting the scope of the claims Correction of typographical errors Clarifying an ambiguous description Note: The restriction above is the same as the one for a final office action
15	Amendment in relation to a div. application Recommended to take into consideration the reasons of rejection to a parent application upon filing a divisional application or Recommended to file a voluntary amendment at the latest by the time when actual examination of the divisional application starts. Average waiting period from the date of requesting a substantial examination is 26 months (statistics in 2006 by the JPO) Applied to a parent application filed on or after April 1, 2007 and a divisional application derived from the parent application.
16	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2006 Increased opportunities for filing a divisional application Additional limitation to claim amendment of a divisional application Prohibition of an amendment switching to　a non-unitary subject matter.
17	Amendment switching to a non-unitary subject matter According to new Article 17-2 (4), 　　　an amendment shall be made so that (i) the present invention whose patentability has been already examined before the amendment and (ii) the amended invention fulfill the requirement of the unity of invention. Note: Very similar to EPC 2000 rule 137(4) or old EPC rule 86(4).
18	Amendment switching to a non-unitary subject matter
19	Amendment switching to a non-unitary subject matter
20	Amendment switching to a non-unitary subject matter A first Office Action: Reason of rejection. A final Office Action: Dismissal of Amendment No ground for invalidation. Recommended to number the claims in the order of invention which you really want to be patented. Applied to an application filed on or after April 1, 2007.
21	Amendment switching to a non-unitary subject matter
22	Amendment switching to a non-unitary subject matter
23	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2008 Reduction of official fees. Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal. License registration before patent registration. Limitation of information disclosure on licensee.
24	Reduction of official fees Although official announcement has not made yet, JPO plans to apply below-mentioned new fee schedule to all cases from June 1, 2008. Official Filing Fee and Official Annual fees for registration or maintenance of patent right or Trademark will be drastically reduced, as follows;
25	Reduction of official fees
26	Reduction of official fees
27	Reduction of official fees
28	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2008 Reduction of official fees. Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal. License registration before patent registration. Limitation of information disclosure on licensee.
29	Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal
30	Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal
31	Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal
32	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2008 Reduction of official fees. Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal. License registration before patent registration. Limitation of information disclosure on licensee.
33	License registration before patent registration. Provisional-License system will be created by the revised JPL. There are Provisional-exclusive-License and Provisional-nonexclusive-License. The current JPL permits registration of License only after the registration of a patent right. Under the revision, registration of Provisional-License can be permitted even before registration of a patent right.
34	License registration before patent registration. Provisional-exclusive-License becomes effective by registration in the JPO. Provisional-nonexclusive-License needs to be registered in the JPO so as to preserve his right against a subsequent assignee of a right to obtain a patent. In the case of PCT application, Provisional-License can be registered only after the national phase entry into Japan is completed.
35	License registration before patent registration. Provisional-License is deemed to be switched to registered License automatically once a patent right is registered. In the meantime, when a patent application is withdrawn or abandoned, effect of the registered Provisional-License lapses also. An applicant cannot withdraw or abandon his patent application without Provisional-License’s consent.
36	Revised Japanese Patent Law 2008 Reduction of official fees. Time Limit for Filing an ex parte Appeal. License registration before patent registration. Limitation of information disclosure on licensee.
37	Limitation of information disclosure on licensee After the revision, certain information registered in the JPO such as a name of licensee or Provisional-nonexclusive-Licensee and scope of license will be disclosed only to a person such as assignee of patent designated by Cabinet Order.
38	Limitation of information disclosure on licensee
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