30 Years of Japio

year	History of Japio	Developments in patent systems
1985	Japio established on August 1 at Toranomon headquarters, Tokyo. The Saga-cho branch opened to prepare for JPO’s Comprehensive Document Image Data File Database service for the public. Registration inquiry service is started using PATOLIS-2, Japio’s online patent information retrieval system. Preparation of Japanese language abstracts of US and EP patent gazettes is started. Research and investigation conducted for the Chinese Patent Office regarding its development plan for a patent information retrieval system (a JICA international cooperation activity). The first Patent Information Fair hosted in October (thereafter held biennially and then annually, gaining a wide audience).	100th anniversary of the industrial property rights system. International Patent Classification (IPC) 4th Edition takes effect Japan domestic priority system introduced
1986	The PATOLIS-2 service connection with the packet exchange network is started. Trainees from the Chinese Patent Office received to impart knowledge and development techniques regarding patent information retrieval system (a JICA international cooperation activity.) Production of English abstracts of domestic patent gazettes concerning atomic energy undertaken in contract with the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute.	System for accelerated examination and appeal hearings for patents and utility models is introduced. Electronic public access to the Comprehensive Document Database is started, a result of JPO’s Paperless Project.
1987	Group-3 facsimile delivery service for PATOLIS-2 is started. Sales of the CD-ROM gazettes of Japan unexamined and examined patent applications is started. The Hakozaki (Tokyo) branch is established to undertake the JPO-entrusted project of figure trademark data extraction.	Multiple claims system revised. System for accelerated examination and appeal hearings for designs is introduced.
1988	Sale of patent data on optical discs is started. The logo mark of Japio is decided upon.	Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act (U.S.) goes into effect.
1989	System for filing applications from electronic terminals is started. Genome DNA database is built, with a subsidy from the Japan Keirin (Bicycle Racing) Association. All branch offices except two Kasumigaseki (downtown Tokyo) branches are closed. Functions are concentrated there, and Toyo-cho (Tokyo) headquarters are established.	Current JPO headquarters building completed.
1990	PATOLIS-3, an enhanced online patent information retrieval system, is launched. F-term (search keyword) explanation book published. Research and investigation into a retrieval expert system conducted, with a subsidy from the Japan Keirin Association.	IPC 5th Edition goes into effect. Electronic filing of applications is started.
1991	A Japio patent management system, MC3, is released.	The number of international PCT applications passes 100,000.
1992	The first domestic CD-ROM gazette search system, developed by Japio, is released. The source of unexamined patent application English language abstracts is changed to be the Japio abstracts which are based on summaries by applicants in electronically-filed applications.	Service mark registration system is introduced. Original abstracts filed by applicants begin to be added to the unexamined application gazettes.
1993	Gateway connection to Japan Technomart is started. Commission to prepare materials for JPO’s trademark examinations is accepted.	The first CD-ROM unexamined application gazette issued.
1994	INPADOC (database of EPO) legal status data service using PATOLIS-3 is started. Gateway connections with Keihanna Infosaal and Nikkei Telecom are opened. Production and sale of separate chemical / mechanical / physical / electrical gazettes on CD-ROM are started. Production and sales of the annual index for unexamined and examined domestic patent applications on CD-ROM are started. Conversion of English language abstracts of unexamined patents to CD-ROM data is started.	New utility model system (technology evaluation report) introduced.
1995	The first Japio fair held, at Nihonbashi Plaza. Group-4 fax delivery services and Kana-trademark search functions introduced into PATOLIS-3. Distribution of the F-term list to the public for use as a reference for the F-term searches is started.	IPC 6th Edition goes into effect. Acceptance of English language Japan patent applications begins. The first CD-ROM patent gazette is issued. English language abstracts of unexamined patent applications issued on CD-ROM
1996	The first Japio website is launched. Gateway connection to the business database G-Search is started. Japio fair held in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Gazette printing service using PATOLIS-3 is started. Data search service using the Japio distributed processing system is started.	System for post-grant opposition to patents is introduced.
1997	New network for online services built, and Web service is started. Compound FKWs (free keywords) for high polymers are added. Commission for JPO trademark machine-search system adaptation to online use and downsizing is undertaken. Commission is undertaken for the development of distributed processing systems for processing a Comprehensive Document Database, to be available for public access at the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT) and Local IP libraries.	Trademark Law Treaty is ratified by Japan. System for post-grant opposition to trademarks and a system allowing one application for multiple classes are introduced.
1998	Japio patent/utility model Web service using a distributed processing system is started. Sales operations for official gazettes transferred to the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. The first Patent Information Fair held in Osaka. IPDL Development Office established, development of the IPDL system is started.	Acceptance of electronic applications filed from PCs begins. Partial design protection is introduced.
1999	JPO’s IPDL system begins operation. Sales of organized and standardized JPO data is started. Full-text search service using PATOLIS-3 is started. Japio Kansai branch office is opened.	Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL) services are started. Partial design / related design system is started. Trademark publication system is introduced. Distribution of organized, standardized JPO data is started. New examination standard for business method patent applications adopted.
2000	PATOLIS-3 services given new functions including ranking function, full gazette PDL output function, and search functions for corresponding patents and applications. New Fixed Keywords to classify business-model patents are added. Commission for the production of unpublished DNA sequence data is undertaken.	IPC 7th Edition goes into effect. New examination standard for software patent applications adopted. Madrid Protocol ratified by Japan. Online filing of design and trademark applications is started. The first CD-ROM gazettes of designs, trademarks, and appeal/trial decisions are issued.
2001	Some operations, including PATOLIS, transferred to private sector; Japio reorganized to specialize in public services. Patent information processing research section established in the Precision & Intelligence Laboratory of Tokyo Institute of Technology with a contribution from Japio.	The National Center for Industrial Property Information (INPIT) is established as an independent administrative organization. Pending period to request examination shortened from 7 years to 3 years.
2002	Operation of the Patent Distribution Database undertaken upon commission by INPIT. Preparation of Japanese language abstracts of unexamined US patent applications is started.	The 42nd class of the classification of goods and/or services is divided into 42nd to 45th classes. Intellectual Property Policy Outline is formulated. Basic Law on Intellectual Property enacted.
2003	Electronic file-wrapper services are started. AAMT/Japio Patent Translation Workshop started, in collaboration with AAMT (the Asia-Pacific Association of Machine Translation).	Intellectual Property Policy Headquarters inaugurated. Promotion Program for the Creation, Protection and Exploitation of Intellectual Property formulated. Filing of patent and utility model applications in XML format begins.
2004	Patent Information Advisor Dispatch Service operations undertaken upon commission from INPIT. Registered as an agency for the prior art patent search service provided free-of-charge by JPO as a part of its support program for patents by small and medium-sized domestic enterprises. Patent Information Fair and Conference held. Network of translators for English language abstracts of laic-open patent applications is constructed to improve quality and efficiency.	System for trial for invalidation is revised. The first XML-format DVD-ROM gazette issued. INPIT is reorganized, its official name changed to the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training.
2005	20th anniversary celebrated. Patent Information Fair and Conference as again held, made an annual event.	Intellectual Property High Court established.
2006	Qualified for QMS/ISMS/Privacy Mark. The 1st issue of annual Japio Yearbook is published.	Trademark Law is revised to introduce the system of regional collective trademark. Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program between the JPO and the USPTO is started. ""Advanced Measures for Accelerating Reform toward Innovation Plan in Patent Examination"" is formulated.
2007	Japio Patent Information Laboratory is established. A feasibility study on the development of Technical Japanese platform is launched. Participated to JICA's international cooperation project; Utilization of Intellectual Property Information in Vietnam (UTIPINFO)	Protection of intellectual property rights and countermeasures for counterfeit goods are enhanced.
2008	Started new entrusted businesses including the research on the provision of domestic examination history information to foreign patent authorities in English.	Fees for patent etc. are reduced. The Super Accelerated Examination is started. JP-FIRST (JP- Fast Information Release STrategy) is started. The Patent Attorney Law is revised.
2009	Japio as general incorporated foundation is started on September 1. Held the Symposium on AAMT/Japio Patent Translation Study Group.	The 50th aniversary of the current Patent Law (S34) since its formulation and publication. ""Green"" applications become eligible for accelerated examination.
2010	25th anniversary celebrated. The 1st Symposium on Technical Japanese Project is held.	JPO Patent System Study Meeting is started. The 125th anniversary of the Industrial Property Rights System in Japan. Electronic filing methodss are unified to filing via the Internet.
2011	Reseaches on utilization of machine translation for The abstracting of Chinese patents, on dictionary data enhancement for machine translation for patent documents, and on online services of industrial property information. Conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation with China patent information Center (CPIC) for mutual cooperation on Chinese-Japanese machine translation.	Reduction of examination fee. Revision of the US patent law.
2012	Japio-GPG service is officially launched. Establishment of the official commendation for persons of merit in patent information dissemination Research on CJ dictionary enhancement and quality improvement for machine translation of Chinese patent documents.	Provision of Abstracts of Chinese Utility Models in Japanese language is started. Enforcement of the revised Patent Law (including introduction of duly assert against third parties and extention of reduction or exemption period for SMEs)
2013	Classification and translation ofChinese unexamined patent application, reseach on new terms for machine translation of Chinese patent documents, reseach on quality evaluation methods of machine translated patent documents. Conclusion of The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation with Korea Institute of Patent Information (KIPI) for mutual cooperation.	Introduction of the TV-interview examination via the Internet. The Collective Examination of IP Portfolio Supporting Business Strategy is started. Provision of Abstracts of Chinese Patents mannually translated in Japanese language is started.
2014	Japio-GPG/FX service, the worldwide full-text patent information commercial database service, is officially launched. Research on dictionary enhancement and quality evaluation for machine translation of Chinese patent documents Conclusion of The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation with Intellectual Property Publishing House (IPPH) for mutual cooperation.	The FA11 is achieved to shorten the period from filing a request for examination to issuing a first action to 11 months or less. The Quality Policy on Patent Examination is established.
2015	30th anniversary of Japio. The "Japio prior art search aiding service for SMEs [domestic/worldwide]" is launched in cooperation with authorized research agencies.	The J-PlatPat, Japan Platform for Patent Information, is launched. The Patent Opposition System is established. Registration of Non-traditional trademarks including sounds, colors, positions, motions or holograms, motions or positions is introduced.