1. Purpose

The purpose of this Law shall be to encourage devices by promoting the protection and utilization of devices relating to the shape or construction of articles or a combination of articles, so as to contribute to the development of industry.

(1) "Device" in this Law means the creation of technical ideas by which a law of nature is utilized.

(2) "Registered utility model" in this Law means a device for which a utility model registration has been effected.

(3) "Working" of a device in this Law means acts of manufacturing, using, assigning, leasing, importing or offering for assignment or lease (including displaying for the purpose of assignment or lease - hereinafter the same) of, articles embodying the device.

(1) A person who is proceeding on a utility model application or a demand or taking any other procedure relating to a utility model registration (hereinafter referred to as gprocedure") may make amendments only during the pendency of the case before the Patent Office. However, he may not amend the specification, the drawings or the abstract attached to the request after the expiration of the time limit to be set by Cabinet Order from the filing date of the utility model application.

(2) An amendment of the specification or drawings under the principal sentence of the preceding subsection shall remain within the scope of the features disclosed in the specification or drawings originally attached to the request.

(3) The Commissioner of the Patent Office may invite amendment, designating an adequate time limit, in the following cases:

(i) when the requirements of Sections 7(1) to (3) or 9 of the Patent Law (Law No. 121 of 1959) as applied under Section 2quinquies of this Law have not been complied with;

(ii) when the formal requirements specified in this Law or in an order or ordinance thereunder have not been complied with;

(iii) when the fees to be paid under Section 32(1) have not been paid with respect to a procedure;

(iv) when the fees to be paid under Section 54(1) or (2) have not been paid with respect to a procedure.

(4) Any amendment (except in the case of the payment of the annual fee or fees) shall be submitted in writing.

The Commissioner of the Patent Office may dismiss a procedure when a person whom he has invited to make amendment in accordance with Section 2bis(3) or Section 6bis fails to do so within the time limit designated in accordance with that subsection or that Section.

(1) An association or foundation which is not a legal entity but for which an officer representing it or an administrator has been designated may, in its name:

(i) make a request for technical opinion as to registrability of a utility model referred to in Section 12(1);

(ii) demand a trial;

(iii) demand a retrial against a final and conclusive trial decision.

(2) An association or foundation which is not a legal entity but for which an officer representing it or an administrator has been designated may be made a party in its name to a retrial against a final and conclusive trial decision.

(1) Sections 3 and 5 of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the time limits and dates prescribed in this Law.

(2) Sections 7 to 9, 11 to 16, 18bis to 24 of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the procedure.

(3) Section 25 of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to utility model rights and other rights relating to utility model registrations.

(4) Section 26 of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to utility model registrations.

3. Registrability of utility models

(1) Any person who has made a device which is industrially applicable and which relates to the shape or construction of articles or a combination of articles may obtain a utility model registration therefor, except in the case of the following devices:

(i) devices which were publicly known in Japan or elsewhere prior to the filing of the utility model application;

(ii) devices which were publicly worked in Japan or elsewhere prior to the filing of the utility model application;

(iii) devices which were described in a distributed publication or made available to the public through electric telecommunication lines in Japan or elsewhere prior to the filing the utility model application.

(2) Where a device could very easily have been made, prior to the filing of the utility model application, by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the device pertains, on the basis of a device or devices referred to in any of the paragraphs of the preceding subsection, a utility model registration shall not be effected for such a device notwithstanding the preceding subsection.

Where a device claimed in a utility model application is identical with a device or invention (excluding a device or invention made by the same person as the creator of the device claimed in the utility model application) disclosed in the specification or drawings originally attached to the request of another application for a utility model registration or for a patent (in the case of the foreign language file referred to in Section 36bis(2) of the Patent Law, the foreign language file referred to in Section 36bis(1) of said Law) which was filed prior to the filing date of the utility model application and for which the Utility Model Gazette which states the matter referred to in each paragraph of Section 14(3) (hereinafter referred to as "the Gazette containing the Utility Model") was published under said subsection after the filing of the utility model application or for which the Patent Gazette which states the matter referred to in each paragraph of Section 66(3) of the Patent Law (hereinafter referred to "the Patent Gazette") was published under said subsection of said Law or the laying open for public inspection (Kokai) is effected, the utility model registration shall not be granted for the device notwithstanding Section 3(1). However, this provision shall not apply where, at the time of filing of the utility model application, the applicant of the utility model application and the applicant of the other application for a utility model registration or the application for a patent are the same person.

(1) Any person desiring a utility model registration shall submit a request to the Commissioner of the Patent Office stating the following:

(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the applicant for a utility model registration;

(ii) the name and the domicile or residence of the creator.

(2) The request shall be accompanied by the specification, the drawings and the abstract.

(3) The specification under Subsection (2) shall state the following:

(i) the title of the device;

(ii) a brief explanation of the drawings;

(iii) a detailed explanation of the device;

(iv) utility model claim(s).

(4) The detailed explanation of the device under Paragraph (iii) of the preceding subsection shall state in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for the device to be carried out by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the device pertains as provided for in an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(5) In the utility model claim under Subsection (3)(iv), there shall be set forth, by statements separated on a claim by claim basis, all matters which an applicant for a utility model registration considers necessary in defining a device for which a utility model registration is sought.

(6) The statements of the utility model registration claim under Subsection (3)(iv) shall comply with each of the following paragraphs as being:

(i) the device for which a utility model registration is sought shall be described in the detailed explanation of the device;

(ii) a device for which a utility model registration is sought shall be clear;

(iii) each claim shall be concise;

(iv) in addition, the utility model registration claim(s) shall comply with an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(7) The abstract under Subsection (2) shall state the summary of the device disclosed in the specification or drawings and other matters provided for in an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The Commissioner of the Patent Office may invite amendment, designating an adequate time limit, where a utility model application falls under any of the following paragraphs:

(i) the device claimed in the utility model application is not a device that relates to the shape or construction of articles or a combination of articles;

(ii) the device claimed in the utility model application is not registrable in accordance with Section 4;

(iii) the utility model application does not comply with the requirements of Section 5(6)(iv) or Section 6;

(iv) where the specification or drawings attached to the request does not contain the necessary matters or the description in the specification or drawings is very unclear.

(1) Where two or more utility model applications relating to the same device are filed on different dates, only the first applicant may obtain a utility model registration for the device.

(2) Where two or more utility model applications relating to the same device are filed on the same date, none of the applicants shall obtain a utility model registration for the device.

(3) Where a device claimed in a utility model application is the same as an invention claimed in a patent application and the applications are filed on different dates, the applicant for a utility model registration may obtain registration only if his application was filed before the patent application.

(4) Where a utility model application or a patent application is abandoned, withdrawn or dismissed, such application shall, for the purposes of the three preceding subsections, be deemed never to have been made.

(5) Where an examiner's decision or trial decision that a patent application is to be refused has become final and conclusive, such application shall, for the purposes of Subsection (3), be deemed never to have been made. However, this provision shall not apply where an examiner's decision or a trial decision that the patent application is to be refused under the provision of the last sentence of Section 39(2) of the Patent Law becomes final and conclusive.

(6) A utility model application or a patent application filed by a person who is neither the creator nor the inventor nor the successor in title to the right to obtain a utility model registration or patent shall, for the purposes of Subsections (1) to (3), be deemed not to be a utility model application or a patent application.

(7) If no agreement is reached or no consultations is possible under Section 39(4) of the Patent Law, the applicant for a utility model registration shall not obtain registration for such device.

(1) Any person desiring a utility model registration may declare a priority claim for the device claimed in a utility model application on the basis of the device which has been disclosed in the specification or drawings originally attached to the request (in the case of a foreign language file application referred to in Section 36bis(2) of the Patent Law, in the foreign language file referred to in Section 36bis(1) of the Patent Law) of a utility model or a patent application in which he has the right to obtain a utility model registration or a patent and which has been filed earlier (hereinafter referred to as "earlier application") except in the following cases:

(i) the utility application concerned is not one filed within one year from the filing date of the earlier application;

(ii) the earlier application is a new utility model application divided out from a utility model application under Section 44(1) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of the Utility Model Law, a utility model application converted from an application under Section 10(1) or (2) of the Utility Model Law, a new patent application divided out from a patent application under Section 44(1), or a patent application converted from an application under Section 46(1) or (2) of the Patent Law;

(iii) at the time when the utility model application concerned is filed, the earlier application has been abandoned, withdrawn or dismissed;

(iv) at the time when the utility model application concerned is filed, the examiner's decision or the trial decision on the earlier application has become final and conclusive;

(v) at the time when the utility model application concerned is filed, the registration of establishment referred to in Section 14(2) with respect to the earlier application has been effected.

(2) For devices which are amongst those claimed in a utility model application containing a priority claim under the preceding subsection and which are disclosed in the specifications or drawings originally attached to the request of an earlier application whose priority is so claimed [in the case where the earlier application contains a priority claim under that subsection or Section 41(1) of the Patent Law, or a priority claim under Section 43(1) or Section 43bis(1) or (2) of the Patent Law (including its application under Section 11(1) of this Law), excluding the devices disclosed in the file (limited to those equivalent to the specifications and drawings) submitted at the time of the filing of the application whose priority is claimed for the earlier application; in the case where the earlier application is a foreign language file application referred to in Section 36bis(2) of the Patent Law, in the foreign language file referred to in Section 36bis(1) of that Law], the utility model application shall be considered to have been filed at the time when the earlier application was filed for the purposes of Section 3, the principal sentence of Section 3bis, Section 7(1) to (3), Section 30(1) to (3) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law, Section 17 of this Law, Sections 69(2)(ii), 79, 81 and 82(1) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 26 of this Law, Sections 39(3) and (4) and 72 of the Patent Law, Sections 26, 31(2) and 32(2) of the Design Law (Law No. 125 of 1959) and Sections 29 and 33bis(3) and Section 33ter(3) (including its application mutatis mutandis under Section 68(3) of the Trademark Law) of the Trademark Law (Law No. 127 of 1959).

(3) For devices which are amongst those disclosed in the specification or drawings originally attached to the request of a utility model application containing a priority claim under subsection (1) and which are the devices [excluding those devices disclosed in the documents (limited to those equivalent to the specification and drawings) submitted at the time of the filing of an application whose priority is claimed for an earlier application in the case where that earlier application contains a priority claim under Subsection (1) of this Section or Section 41(1) or under 43(1) or 43bis(1) or (2) of the Patent Law (including its application under Section 11(1) of this Law)] disclosed in the specification or drawings originally attached to the request of the earlier application whose priority is so claimed (in the case where that earlier application is the foreign language file application under Section 36bis(2) of the Patent Law, the foreign language file referred to in Section 36bis(1)), the Gazette containing the Utility Model or the laying open for public inspection in respect of the earlier application shall be considered to have been published or effected at the time when the Gazette containing the Utility Model in respect of the utility model application was published, for the purposes of the principal sentence of Section 3bis of this Law or the principal sentence of Section 29bis of the Patent Law.

(4) A person desiring to declare a priority claim under Subsection (1) shall, simultaneously with the utility model application, submit to the Commissioner of the Patent Office a document setting forth a statement to that effect and an identification of the earlier application.

(1) The earlier application whose priority is claimed under Section 8(1) shall be deemed withdrawn at the expiration of one year and three months from the filing date of that earlier application. However, where that earlier application has been abandoned, withdrawn or dismissed, where the examiner's decision or trial decision on that earlier application has become final and conclusive, where the registration of establishment referred to in Section 14(2) with respect to the earlier application has been effected, or where all of the priority claims based on that earlier application have been withdrawn, this provision shall not apply.

(2) The applicant of a utility model application containing a priority claim under Section 8(1) shall not withdraw the priority claim after the expiration of one year and three months from the filing date of the earlier application.

(3) Where the patent application containing a priority claim under Section 8(1) is withdrawn within one year and three months from the filing date of the earlier applications, the priority claim shall be deemed withdrawn simultaneously.

(1) An applicant for a patent may convert his application into a utility model application. However, this provision shall not apply after 30 days from the transmittal of the examiner's first decision that the patent application is to be refused or after five years and six months from the filing date of the patent application.

(2) An applicant for a design registration may convert his application into a utility model application. However, this provision shall not apply after 30 days from transmittal of the examiner's first decision that the design application is to be refused or after five years and six months from the filing date of the design application.

(3) Where an application has been converted under the two preceding subsections, the utility model application shall be deemed to have been filed at the time of filing of the patent or design application. However, this provision shall not apply where the utility model application is either another application for a utility model registration as referred to in Section 3bis of this Law or an application for a utility model registration as referred to in Section 29bis of the Patent Law, for the purposes of those sections and Section 8(4) of this Law as well as Sections 30(4) and 43(1) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law (including its application under Section 43bis(3) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law).

(4) For the purpose of Section 43(2) of the Patent Law (including its application under Section 43bis(3) of the same law as applied in Subsection (1) of the following section of this Law) where a utility model application is converted under the provision of Subsection (1) or (2), "within one year and four months from the earliest of the filing dates" in Section 43(2) shall read "within the one year and four months from the earliest of the following filing dates or within three months from the filing date of the new patent application converted from the application under the provision of Section 10(1) or (2), whichever comes later".

(5) Where an application has been converted under Subsection (1) or (2), the patent or design application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(6) The 30-day period prescribed in the proviso to Subsection (1) shall, when the time limit prescribed in Section 121(1) of the Patent Law has been extended in accordance with Section 4 of that Law, be deemed to have been extended only for that period as extended.

(7) The 30-day period prescribed in the proviso to Subsection (2) shall, when the time limit prescribed in Section 46(1) of the Design Law has been extended in accordance with Section 4 of the Patent Law as applied under Section 68(1) of the Design Law, be deemed to have been extended only for that period as extended.

(8) Where the conversion of an application under Subsection (1) is made, any statements or documents which have been submitted with respect to the original application for patent and which shall be submitted with respect to the new application for utility model registration in accordance with Section 8(4) of this Law or Sections 30(4) or 43(1) and (2) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law (including its application under Section 43bis(3) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law) , shall be deemed to have been submitted to the Commissioner of the Patent Office simultaneously with the said new utility model application.

(9) The preceding subsection shall apply mutatis mutandis to the conversion of an application under Subsection (2).

11. Application mutatis mutandis of Patent Law

(1) Section 30 (exceptions to lack of novelty of invention), Section 38 (joint applications), Sections 43 to 44 (priority claim under the Paris Convention and division of patent applications) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to utility model applications.

(2) Sections 33 and 34(1) and (2), and (4) to (7) (right to obtain patent) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the right to obtain a utility model registration.

(3) Section 35 (employees' inventions) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to devices made by an employee, an executive officer of a legal entity or a national or local public official.

(1) Any person may make, to the Commissioner of the Patent Office, a request for a technical opinion as to registrability of a claimed device in a registered utility model or utility model application (hereinafter referred to as "a technical opinion as to registrability of a utility model") provided for in Section 3(1)(iii) and (2) (only on the basis of a device or devices referred to in Sections 3(1)(iii), 3bis and 7(1) to (3) and (7)). In such a case, if there are two or more claims, a request may be made for each claim.

(2) Where a request is made, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall have an examiner establish a report of a technical opinion as to registrability of the utility model (hereinafter referred to as "Jitsuyoshinan Gijutsu Hyokasho") with respect to such a request.

(3) A request under Subsection (1) may be made even after the extinguishment of the utility model right. However, this provision shall not apply after the registration has been invalidated in a trial under Section 37(1).

(4) Section 47(2) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the establishment of a report of a technical opinion as to registrability of a utility model.

(5) A request under Subsection (1) may not be withdrawn.

The Commissioner of the Patent Office shall, where a request for a technical opinion as to registrability of a utility model has been made before the publication of the Gazette containing the Utility Model, publish such fact in said Gazette at the time said Gazette is published or as soon as possible thereafter and where a request for a technical opinion as to registrability of a utility model has been made after the publication of said Gazette, he shall publish such fact in said Gazette without delay.

(1) A utility model right shall come into force upon registration of its establishment.

(2) The establishment of a utility model right shall be registered when the application for a utility model registration has been filed, unless the application has been abandoned, withdrawn or dismissed.

(3) Upon registration under the preceding subsection, the following items shall be published in the Utility Model Gazette:

(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the owner of the utility model right;

(ii) the number and the date of the application;

(iii) the name and the domicile or residence of the creator;

(iv) the title of the device, the brief explanation of the drawings and the claim contained in the specification as well as the contents of the drawings attached to the request;

(v) the matters appearing in the abstract attached to the request;

(vi) the number and the date of the registration;

(vii) other necessary particulars.

(4) Section 64(3) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the publication of the matters appearing in the abstract under Subsection (3)(v) in the Utility Model Gazette in accordance with Subsection (3).

(1) The owner of a utility model right may correct the specification or drawings attached to a request only where such correction has as its object the cancellation of a claim or claims. However, where a trial under Section 37(1) of this Law is pending before the Office, he may not correct the specification or drawings attached to the request after the notification under Section 156(1) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 41 of this Law (in the case of trial examination reopened under Section 156(2), after the further notification under Section 156(1)).

(2) The correction under the preceding subsection may be made even after the extinguishment of the utility model right. However, this provision shall not apply after the registration has been invalidated in a trial under Section 37(1).

(3) Where the correction under Subsection (1) has been made, the utility model application and the registration of the utility model right shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the corrected specification or drawings.

(4) Where the correction under Subsection (1) has been made, it shall be published in the Utility Model Gazette.

(5) Sections 127 and 132(3) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case under Subsection (1).

The term of the utility model right shall be six years from the filing date of the utility model application.

The owner of a utility model right shall have an exclusive right to commercially work the registered utility model. However, where the utility model right is the subject of an exclusive license, this provision shall not apply to the extent that the exclusive licensee exclusively possesses the right to work the registered utility model.

When a registered utility model would utilize another person's registered utility model, patented invention or registered design or design similar thereto under an application filed prior to the filing date of the utility model application concerned, or when the utility model right conflicts with another person's design right or trademark right under an application for registration of a design or a trademark filed prior to the filing date of the utility model application concerned, the owner of the utility model right, exclusive licensee or non-exclusive licensee shall not commercially work the registered utility model.

(1) The owner of a utility model right may grant an exclusive license on such right.

(2) An exclusive licensee shall have an exclusive right to commercially work the registered utility model, to the extent laid down in the license contract.

(3) Section 77(3) to (5) (transfer, etc.), Section 97(2) (surrender) and Section 98(1)(ii) and (2) (effects of registration) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to exclusive licenses.

(1) The owner of a utility model right may grant a non-exclusive license on such right.

(2) A non-exclusive licensee shall have the right to commercially work the registered utility model, to the extent prescribed in this Law or laid down in the license contract.

(3) Section 73(1) (joint ownership), Section 97(3) (surrender) and Section 99 (effects of registration) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to non-exclusive licenses.

(1) When a person coming within any of the paragraphs set out below has been commercially working a device or invention in Japan or has been making preparations therefor, prior to the registration of a demand for a trial under Section 123(1) of the Patent Law, without knowing that the patent falls under any of the requirements of any of the paragraphs of Section 123(1) of the Patent Law, such person shall have a non-exclusive license on the utility model right or on the exclusive license existing at the time when the patent was invalidated, such non-exclusive license being limited to the invention which is being worked or for which preparations for working are being made and to the purpose of such working or the preparations therefor:

(i) the original patentee, where a device registered as a utility model and a patented invention are the same and the patent has been invalidated;

(ii) the original patentee, where his patent has been invalidated and a utility model registration for the same device as the invention has been granted to the person entitled;

(iii) in the cases referred to in the two preceding paragraphs, a person, who, at the time of registration of the demand for a trial under Section 123(1) of the Patent Law, has either the exclusive license or an exclusive license on the patent that has been invalidated or a non-exclusive license that is effective under Section 99(1) of the Patent Law against the patent right or the exclusive license.

(2) The owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee shall have a right to a reasonable remuneration as consideration for the non-exclusive license under the preceding subsection.

(1) Where a registered utility model has not been sufficiently and continuously worked during a period of three years or more in Japan, a person who intends to work the registered utility model may request the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee to hold consultations on the grant of a non-exclusive license thereon. However, this provision shall not apply unless four years have elapsed since the filing date of the application corresponding to the registered utility model.

(2) If no agreement is reached or no consultation is possible under the preceding subsection, a person who intends to work the registered utility model may request the Commissioner of the Patent Office for an arbitration decision.

(3) Sections 84 to 91bis (arbitration procedure, etc.) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to arbitrations under the preceding subsection.

(1) Where a registered utility model falls under any of the cases provided for in Section 17, the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive license may request the other person referred to in that section to hold consultations on the grant of a non-exclusive license to work the registered utility model or of a non-exclusive license on the patent right or the design right.

(2) The other person referred to in Section 17 who has been requested to hold the consultations under the preceding subsection may request the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee having requested the consultations to hold consultations on the grant of a non-exclusive license within the scope of the registered utility model which the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee desires to work by obtaining the non-exclusive license on the utility model right, the patent right or the design right through the consultations requested by the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee.

(3) If no agreement is reached or no consultation is possible under Subsection (1), the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee may request the Commissioner of the Patent Office for an arbitration decision.

(4) If no agreement is reached or no consultation is possible under Subsection (2) and an arbitration under the preceding subsection is requested, the other person referred to in Section 17 may request the Commissioner of the Patent Office for an arbitration decision only within the time limit which the Commissioner of the Patent Office designates as the time limit for the other person to submit a written reply in accordance with Section 84 of the Patent Law as applied under Subsection (7).

(5) If, in the case of Subsection (3) or the preceding subsection, the grant of a non-exclusive license would unduly injure the interests of the other person referred to in Section 17 or the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall not render an arbitration decision ordering a non-exclusive license to be granted.

(6) In the case of Subsection (4) in addition to the case provided for in the preceding subsection, the Commissioner of the Patent Office shall not render an arbitration decision ordering a non-exclusive license to be granted if an arbitration decision ordering a non-exclusive license to be granted is not rendered with respect to the request for the arbitration decision under Subsection (3).

(7) Sections 84, 85(1) and 86 to 91bis (arbitration procedure, etc.) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to arbitrations under Subsection (3) or (4).

(1) Where the working of a registered utility model is particularly necessary in the public interest, a person who intends to work the utility model may request the owner of the utility model right or the exclusive licensee to hold consultations on the grant of a non-exclusive license.

(2) If no agreement is reached or no consultation is possible under the preceding subsection, a person who intends to work the registered utility model may request the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for an arbitration decision.

(3) Sections 84, 85(1) and 86 to 91bis (arbitration procedure, etc.) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to arbitrations under the preceding subsection.

(1) A non-exclusive license, with the exception of one which results from an arbitration decision under Section 21(2), 22(3) or (4), or 23(2) of this Law, Section 92(3) of the Patent Law or Section 33(3) of the Design Law, may be transferred, but only together with the business in which it is worked or only with the consent of the owner of the utility model right (or the owner and the exclusive licensee in the case of a non-exclusive license on an exclusive license) or in the case of inheritance or other general succession.

(2) A non-exclusive licensee may, except in the case of a non-exclusive license resulting from an arbitration decision under Section 21(2), 22(3) or (4), or 23(2) of this Law, Section 92(3) of the Patent Law or Section 33(3) of the Design Law, establish a pledge on the non-exclusive license, but only with the consent of the owner of the utility model right (or the owner and the exclusive licensee in the case of a non-exclusive license on an exclusive license).

(3) A non-exclusive license resulting from an arbitration decision under Section 21(2) or 23(2) may be transferred only together with the business in which it is worked.

(4) A non-exclusive license resulting from an arbitration decision under Section 22(3) of this Law, Section 92(3) of the Patent Law or Section 33(3) of the Design Law shall be transferred together with the utility model, patent or design right to which the non-exclusive licensee is entitled, and if such right has been transferred independently from the business in which it is worked or extinguished, the non-exclusive licensee shall be extinguished simultaneously.

(5) A non-exclusive license resulting from an arbitration decision under Section 22(4) of this Law shall be transferred together with the utility model, patent or design right to which the non-exclusive licensee is entitled and shall be extinguished at the same time as the utility model, patent or design right has been extinguished.

(1) Where a utility model right or an exclusive or non-exclusive license is the subject of a pledge, the pledgee may not work the registered utility model except as otherwise provided by contract.

(2) Section 96 (attachment) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to pledges on a utility model right, exclusive license or non-exclusive license.

(3) Section 98(1)(iii) and (2) (effects of registration) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to pledges on a utility model right or exclusive license.

(4) Section 99(3) (effects of registration) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to pledges on a non-exclusive license.

Sections 69(1) and (2), 70 to 71bis (limits of patent right, and technical scope of patented inventions), Section 73 (joint ownership), Section 76 (extinguishment of patent right in absence of heir), Section 79(non-exclusive license by virtue of prior use), Sections 81 and 82 (non-exclusive license after expiration of design right), Section 97(1)(surrender) and Section 98(1)(i) and (2) (effects of registration) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to utility model rights.

(1) The owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee may require a person who is infringing or is likely to infringe the utility model right or exclusive license (hereinafter referred to as "an infringer, etc.") to discontinue or refrain from such infringement.

(2) The owner of a utility model right or an exclusive licensee who is acting under the preceding subsection may demand the destruction of the articles by which the act of infringement was committed, the removal of the facilities used for the act of infringement, or other measures necessary to prevent the infringement.

Acts of manufacturing, assigning, leasing, importing or offering for assignment or lease of, in the course of trade, article to be used exclusively for the manufacture of the article covered by the registered utility model shall be deemed to be an infringement of the utility model right or exclusive license.

(1) Where the owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee claims, from a person who has intentionally or negligently infringed his utility model right or exclusive license, compensation for damage caused to him by the infringement, and the person's act is the assignment of articles by which the act of the infringement was committed, the sum of money with the unit price of such article multiplied by the number of articles (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as the "number of assigned articles") which the owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee could have sold in the absence of the infringement may be estimated as the amount of damage suffered by the owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee within a limit not exceeding an amount attainable depending on working capability of the owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee. Where there is any circumstance that prevents the owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee from selling part or the whole of the number of assigned articles, a sum equivalent to the number of assigned articles subject to that circumstance shall be deducted.

(2) Where the owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee claims, from a person who has intentionally or negligently infringed the utility model right or exclusive license, compensation for damage caused to him by the infringement, the profits gained by the infringer through the infringement shall be presumed to be the amount of damage suffered by the owner or exclusive licensee.

(3) The owner of a utility model right or exclusive licensee may claim, from a person who has intentionally or negligently infringed the utility model right or exclusive license, an amount of money which he would be entitled to receive for the working of the registered utility model, as the amount of damage suffered by him.

(4) The preceding subsection shall not preclude a claim to damages exceeding the amount referred to therein. In such a case, where there has been neither willfulness nor gross negligence on the part of the person who has infringed the utility model right or the exclusive license, the court may take this into consideration when awarding damages.

The owner of a utility model right or the exclusive licensee may not exercise his rights pertaining to his utility model rights or exclusive rights against an infringer, etc., until he has given a warning in the form of a report of a technical opinion as to registrability of the utility model (Jitsuyoshinan Gijutsu Hyokasho).

(1) Where the owner of a utility model right or the exclusive licensee has exercised his utility model right or exclusive license or given a warning to an infringer, etc. and a trial decision (other than a trial decision on the grounds set out in Section 37(1)(vi)) that the utility model registration is to be invalidated has become final and conclusive, such owner or exclusive licensee shall be liable to indemnify any other party in respect of any damage caused to that party by the exercise of that right or by the giving of the warning. However, this provision shall not apply where such exercise or warning was based on a technical opinion of the report of a technical opinion as to registrability of the Utility Model (Jitsuyoshinan Gijutsu Hyokasho) (other than a technical opinion that the device claimed in the utility model application or the registered utility model is not registrable in accordance with Section 3(1)(iii) and (2) (only with respect to the device in Sections 3(1)(iii)), 3bis and 7(1) to (3) and (7)) as to registrability of the utility model, and the owner or exclusive licensee has taken appropriate care in exercising the right or giving the warning.

(2) The preceding subsection shall apply where the right is exercised or the warning is given with respect to a device which, as a result of a correction under Section 14bis(1) to the specification or drawings attached to the request of the utility model application, no longer falls within the scope of the claim(s) as at the time of the registration of the utility model right.

Sections 104bis to 106 (obligation to clarify relevant act in concrete manner, production of documents etc., expert opinion for proof of damage, award of reasonable damages, and measures for recovery of reputation) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the infringement of a utility model right or exclusive license.

(1) A person who obtains registration of a utility model right or the owner of a utility model right shall pay, as annual fees, the amount specified in the right-hand column of the following table corresponding to the relevant period in the left-hand column, for each case and for each year up to the expiration of the term under Section 15 from the registration of a utility model right:

(2) The preceding subsection shall not apply to utility model rights belonging to the State or independent administrative institutions (referring to the independent administrative institutions prescribed in Section 2(1) of the Law concerning the General Provisions of Independent Administrative Institutions (Law No. 103 of 1999), hereinafter the same) which are those to be set up by Cabinet Order by taking into consideration the substance of their business and other circumstances.

(3) The provision of Subsection (1) shall not apply to a utility model right owned jointly by the State and the independent administrative institutions prescribed by Cabinet Order in the preceding subsection or owned jointly by the independent administrative institutions prescribed by Cabinet Order in the same subsection.

(4) Where the State and the like (referring to the State or the independent administrative institutions prescribed by Cabinet Order in Subsection (2), the same in Section 54(3) and (5)) and the person other than the State and the like (referring to the person other than the State and the independent administrative institutions prescribed by Cabinet Order in Subsection (2), hereinafter the same in this subsection and the same section (6)) jointly own a utility model right and there is an agreement with respect to their shares of the right, the annual fees under Subsection (1) shall be a sum with the prescribed annual fees under Subsection (1) multiplied by the ratios of the shares of the persons other than the State and the like, and the persons other than the State and the like shall pay such sum, notwithstanding the provision of Subsection (1).

(5) Where the amount of the annual fees calculated in accordance with the provision of the preceding subsection has a fractional figure less than 10 yen, that fractional figure shall be discarded.

(6) The payment of the annual fees under Subsection (1) shall be made by patent revenue stamps as prescribed by an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. However, wherever so prescribed by an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, such payment may be made in cash.

(1) The annual fees for each year from the first to the third year under Section 31(1) shall be paid in a lump sum, simultaneously with the utility model application (in the case of the conversion of an application under Section 10(1) or (2) or the division of an application under Section 44(1) of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law, simultaneously with that conversion or division).

(2) The annual fees for the fourth and subsequent years under Section 31(1) shall be paid during the preceding year or prior thereto.

(3) Upon the request of the person liable to pay an annual fee, the Commissioner of the Patent Office may extend the period prescribed in Subsection (1) by a period not exceeding 30 days.

Where the Commissioner of the Patent Office recognizes that a person liable to pay the annual fees for each year from the first to the third year under Section 31(1) is the creator of the device claimed in the utility model application or the creator's heir and that he cannot afford to pay the annual fees because of poverty, he may reduce the annual fees, exempt him therefrom or grant him deferment of payment thereof as prescribed by Cabinet Order.

(1) Where the owner of a utility model right is unable to pay an annual fee within the time limit prescribed in Section 32(2) or within the time limit for deferred payment under Section 32bis, he may pay the annual fee belatedly within six months from the expiration of the time limit.

(2) In the case of late payment of an annual fee in accordance with the preceding subsection, the owner of the utility model right shall, in addition to the annual fee provided for in Section 31(1), pay a surcharge of the same amount as the annual fee.

(3) The payment of the surcharge under the preceding subsection shall be made by patent revenue stamps as prescribed by an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. However, wherever so prescribed by an ordinance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, such payment may be made in cash.

(4) Where the owner of a utility model right fails to pay an annual fee for the fourth year or a subsequent year under Section 31(1) as well as the surcharge under Subsection (2) within the time limit for late payment under Subsection (1), the utility model right shall be deemed to have been extinguished retroactively from the moment that the time limit prescribed in Section 32(2) expired.

(5) Where the owner of a utility model right fails to pay an annual fee whose payment has been deferred under Section 32bis and the surcharge under Subsection (2) within the time limit for late payment under Subsection (1), the utility model right shall be deemed never to have existed.

(1) Where the utility model right is one which was deemed to have been extinguished under Section 33(4) or which was deemed never to have existed under Section 33(5) and the owner of the extinguished utility model right is unable to pay an annual fee and surcharge belatedly within the time limit for late payment under Section 33(1) due to reasons outside his control, he may pay the annual fee and surcharge referred to in Section 33(4) or (5) within 14 days (where he is a resident abroad, within two months) from the date on which the reasons ceased to be applicable but not later than six months following the expiration of said time limit.

(2) Where the annual fee and surcharge have been paid in accordance with the preceding subsection, the utility model right shall be deemed to have been maintained retroactively from the time of the expiration of the time limit prescribed in Section 32(2) or existed from the beginning.

(1) Where a utility model right has been restored under Section 33bis(2), the effects of the utility model right shall not extend to the article covered by a registered utility model which was imported into, or manufactured or acquired in Japan after the expiration of the time limit for late payment under Section 33(1) but before the registration of the restoration of the utility model right.

(2) The effects of a utility model right restored under Section 33bis(2) shall not extend, after the expiration of the time limit for late payment under Section 33(1) but before the registration of restoration of the utility model right, to the following acts:

(i) the working of the device;

(ii) acts of manufacturing, assigning, leasing, importing or offering for assignment or lease of, articles to be used exclusively for the manufacture of the product covered by the registered utility model.

(1) Annual fees shall be refunded, upon the request of the person who paid them, only in the following cases:

(i) the annual fees paid by mistake or in excess;

(ii) the annual fees in the case where the disposition that the utility model application is to be dismissed became final and conclusive;

(iii) the annual fees for the year following the year in which the trial decision that the utility model registration is to be invalidated became final and conclusive, and subsequent years;

(iv) the annual fees for the year following the year in which the date of expiration of the term of utility model right falls, and subsequent years.

(2) No refund of annual fees under the preceding subsection may be requested after one year from the date of payment in the case of annual fees under Paragraph (i), or after six months from the date on which the disposition or the trial decision became final and conclusive in the case of annual fees under Paragraph (ii) or (iii) or after one year from the date of the registration of establishment of a utility model right in the case of the annual fees under Paragraph (iv) of the preceding subsection.

Section 110 (payment of annual fees by an interested person) of the Patent Law shall apply mutatis mutandis to the annual fee under this Law.

(1) In the following cases, a trial may be demanded for the invalidation of a utility model registration. In this context, if there are two or more claims, a trial may be demanded for each claim. The cases referred to are:

(i) where the registration has been effected in respect of a utility model application with the amendment which does not comply with Section 2bis(2);

(ii) where the registration has been effected contrary to Section 25 of the Patent Law as applied under Section 2quinquies(3) of this Law, to Section 3, 3bis, 4 or 7(1) to (3) or (7) or to Section 38 of the Patent Law as applied under Section 11(1) of this Law;

(iii) where the registration has been effected contrary to the provisions of a treaty;

(iv) where the registration has been effected in respect of a utility model application which does not comply with the requirements of Section 5(4) or (6) [excluding (iv)];

(v) where the registration has been effected in respect of a utility model application filed by a person who is not the creator and has not succeeded to the right to obtain a utility model registration for the device concerned;

(vi) where, after the registration, the owner of the utility model right has become a person who can no longer enjoy such right under Section 25 of the Patent Law as applied under Section 2quinquies(3) of this Law or the registration no longer complies with a treaty.

(2) Even after the extinguishment of a utility model right, a trial under the preceding subsection may be demanded.

(3) Where a trial under Subsection (1) has been demanded, the trial examiner-in-chief shall notify the exclusive licensee with respect to the utility model right and other persons who have any registered rights relating to the utility model registration.

(1) A person demanding a trial shall submit a written demand to the Commissioner of the Patent Office stating the following:

(i) the name and the domicile or residence of the demandant and his representative;

(ii) an identification of the trial case;

(iii) the relief sought in the demand and the grounds therefor.

(2) An amendment of the written demand submitted under the preceding subsection shall not change the gist thereof.

(1) When a trial has been demanded, the trial examiner-in-chief shall transmit a copy of the written demand to the defendant and shall give him an opportunity to submit a written reply, designating an adequate time limit.

(2) Upon receipt thereof or where, during the pendency of the trial under Section 37(1), a correction under Section 14bis(1) has been made, the trial examiner-in-chief shall transmit a copy of the written reply or the correction to the demandant.

(3) The trial examiner-in-chief may examine the parties and intervenors with respect to the trial.

(1) The trial proceedings may, if it is deemed necessary in the trial, be suspended until the trial decision in another trial has become final and conclusive or until litigation proceedings have been concluded.

(2) Where a suit or an application for provisional attachment or provisional disposal has been filed, if the court deems it necessary, it may suspend the litigation proceedings until the trial decision becomes final and conclusive.

(3) Where a suit with respect to infringement of a utility model right or an exclusive license has been filed, the court shall notify the Commissioner of the Patent Office thereof. The same shall apply where the litigation proceedings have been concluded.

(4) Where the Commissioner of the Patent Office receives the notification under the preceding subsection, he shall notify the court of a demand or nondemand for the trial with respect to the utility model right. The same shall apply where the written demand for a trial is ruled to be dismissed, the trial decision is rendered or the demand for the trial is withdrawn.

(1) Subject to Section 40(2), where a suit or an application for provisional attachment or provisional disposal has been filed with respect to the infringement of the utility model right, and when a motion for the suspension of the litigation proceedings by the defendant or debtor is made for the reason that a trial for invalidation under Section 37(1) has been demanded, the court shall suspend such proceedings until after a trial decision has been given in respect of the trial for invalidation under Section 37(1), unless it is obviously deemed that such suspension is not necessary.