Which is the competent authority for utility model patent applications in Japan?

Reinstatement of priority on grounds of "due care" accepted.

yes. Within 3 years from the date of application, or within 3 months from the date of receipt of the rejection decision, the patent type can be changed from design to invention/utility model at the request of the applicant.

A conversion fee shall be paid for patent type conversion. Once the original patent application is converted, it will be deemed withdrawn.

20 years, and the validity period of patents for pharmaceutical inventions and pesticide inventions can be extended to 25 years upon application.

• Inventions under the via Paris Convention : 12 months from the earliest priority date.
• via Nationalization of PCT inventions: 30 months from the earliest priority date.

3-6 months

25 years

• Grant fee: The applicant needs to pay the granted fee within 30 days after receiving the granted notice, which is the annual fee for the first to third years.
• Annuity: From the 4th year from the date of granted, the annual fee will be paid year by year, and the payment can be postponed within 6 months after the overdue period, but at the same time, 200% of the annual fee of the current year must be paid as a penalty. The amount of the annual fee depends on the number of Claim, and the annual fee can be paid for several years in one lump sum.

The design does not lose its novelty if it is disclosed by the designer in Japan within 12 months from the filing date/priority date.

10 years

The JPO conducts formality examination only for utility model patent applications.