International Activities
The 8th Trilateral Users'' Meeting
The meeting firstly discussed standardization of patent application format, or “Same Format”, which both Trilateral Users’ and Trilateral Offices have argued energetically for the
early realization. Although there are still some differences such as, National Legends, Reference numbers in abstract and claims, Requiring amendment of specification to cite prior art
and so on, they found the format generally reflected users’ wants and needs.
They decided to develope working groups to try and find ways of handling
multiple dependent claim practice, requirement of unity of invention, and
references due to realize the early realization of “Same Format”reflecting
substantive IP practice.
Secondly they discussed mutual utilization of the search result. When an invention is applied for one of the trilateral office, the first filling office (OFF) will search prior art. Then the second filing office (OSF) can share the search result and should give feed-back to OFF. In this discussion, they argued on the differences between Japanese request for examination system and European prioritize searching system and they agreed that 12 months is preferable as the search term. Regarding this point, JIPA reported on Japan Patent Office’s (JPO) approach for mutual utilization of the search result and Japanese companies’ response on JPN-US Patent Persecution Highway (PPH). After this JIPA report, IPO and AIPLA will research US companies’ response on PPH. Then they talked about search report format as a first step for search unification. The meeting asked JIPA for having discussion with JPO for consider how to ensure consistency between notice of reasons for refusal and search report because there is no search report in Japan. The meeting agreed that they demand the Trilateral Offices for sharing work results among them and standardization of search method from now on.
Lastly, IPO and AIPLA explained the background and future possibilities
about US court’s temporary injunction against law amendment and proposed
patent law amendment submitted to the US Congress.
The next meeting is scheduled to be held on April 2 and 3, 2008 hosted by BusinessEUrope.
The 25th anniversary symposium for cooperation between the Trilateral Offices was held on the day after the meeting, November 8. Mr. Hiroki Naito, managing Director of JIPA made a presentation and took part in the discussion. JIPA’s active effort to achieve Patent System Harmonization was clearly-understood with his address.
