1. Background

On June 7, 2023, the Act Partially Amending the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and Other Related Laws (hereinafter referred to as the "Revised Act") was enacted during the 211th ordinary session of the Diet. The amendments are based on the following three main points:

(1) enhancing protection of brands, designs, and other assets in light of the diversification of business activities driven by digitalization

(2) improving intellectual property-related procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and digitalization

(3) establishing systems related to international business development.

To specify certain effective dates entrusted to a Cabinet Order under the Revised Act, the Cabinet today approved the Order Specifying the Effective Date for Specific Provisions of the Revised Act.

2. Overview of the Cabinet Order

The effective date is set as April 1, 2026, in accordance with Article 1, item (iii) of the Supplementary Provisions of the Revised Act (to be specified by the Cabinet Order within three years from the date of promulgation.)
The matter for which the effective date is specified by this Cabinet Order is as follows:

• Revision of the online document service system
  Part of the improvements to the service includes the following:
  If a certified copy of an examiner's decision or other specified documents are stored on the designated server of the Japan Patent Office and are not retrieved within 10 days, such documents are deemed to have been served. (Partial amendment to the Act on Special Provisions for Procedures Related to Industrial Property Rights)

Related Material (in Japanese)

• Outline(PDF:62KB)PDF
• Cabinet Order draft and reason(PDF:48KB)PDF
• Outline of the Act(PDF:150KB)PDF

Related Links

• Act Partially Amending the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and Other Related Laws (Promulgated June 14, 2023; in Japanese)Link

Division in Charge

General Coordination Division, Policy Planning and Coordination Department, Japan Patent Office