Expanded Japanese Patent coverage in DWPI
Jinfo Blog

19th May 2008

By Udo Hohlfeld

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Expanded Japanese Patent coverage in Derwent World Patents Index More and more patents are registered in the Asia Pacific region. According to Thomson Reuters (http://www.thomsonreuters.com) more applications are filed in Japan than anywhere else in the world. The company reflects this development by adding the registered Japanes Utility models to the Derwent World Patents Index (DWPI). As announced on May 16, the Japanese records are translated into English (http://www.thomsonreuters.com/content/press_room/sci/261406). The inclusion of the Japanese Utility Models is the latest addition to the DWPI database, following the October 2007 inclusion of the Chinese Utility Model Registrations. With this extension, DWPI now provides a comprehensive access to Asian patents in English. Utility models are similar to patents, with the distinction that they require a less stringent review process, eventually offering a shorter protection period. For the Japanese Utility Models a protection period of ten years is provided beginning with the application date. Thomson Reuters speaks of approximately 150-200 utility models which are published each week by the Japanese Patent Office. Within DWPI, Japanese Utility Models published since January 10, 2008 can be searched. The availability within DWPI for unexamined applictions and some granted Japanese patents is stated with six to ten days after official publication.

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