Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts

JPO Laws and Guidelines

Published May 14th, 2014

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The Japan Patent Office announced the promulgation of Act No. 36, a partial revision of the Patent Act and other related acts, on May 14, 2014. The Act introduces changes including expanding the scope of entities eligible for regional collective trademarks and implementing provisions for the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement concerning international industrial design registration.

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What changed

The Japan Patent Office has promulgated Act No. 36, which enacts partial revisions to the Patent Act and other related legislation. Key changes include expanding eligibility for regional collective trademarks and implementing provisions to align with the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement for international industrial design registration. The Act was passed on April 25, 2014, and promulgated on May 14, 2014.

The effective dates for these provisions will be specified by Cabinet Order, with most taking effect within one year of promulgation. Specific exceptions include provisions for regional collective trademarks, which will take effect within three months, and those related to the Geneva Act, which will take effect upon its entry into force in Japan. Compliance officers should monitor for forthcoming Cabinet Orders to determine precise implementation timelines and any new obligations or registration procedures.

What to do next

Monitor for forthcoming Cabinet Orders specifying effective dates for revised provisions.
Review changes related to regional collective trademarks and international industrial design registration.

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Contents menu Home > Systems/Procedures > Laws and Policies > Laws and Guidelines > Review of Laws > The Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts (Act No. 36 of May 14 2014)

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The Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts (Act No. 36 of May 14, 2014)

May 2014
Japan Patent Office

On March 11, 2014, the Cabinet approved the Bill for the Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts. This Act was passed into law on April 25, 2014 and was promulgated as Act No. 36 on May 14.

Outline of the Act (PDF:64KB)
The Act’s effective date, which will be prescribed in the Cabinet Order, is a date within one year’s time of the Act being promulgated with following exceptions:
The effective date of expanding the scope of entities eligible to register the regional collective trademarks, which will be prescribed in the Cabinet Order, is a date within three months’ time of the Act being promulgated.
The effective date of provisions to properly implement the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs is the date on which the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs will come into effect in Japan.
[Last updated 19 May 2014]

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