Japan to Share Patent Info with Singapore, Philippines

Tokyo, May 25 (Jiji Press)--Japan agreed with Singapore and the Philippines each on Monday to begin the sharing of patent, trademark and design data as early as during the current fiscal year through March 2016. The agreements were reached during talks between Japan Patent Office Commissioner Hitoshi Ito and top intellectual property officials of the two countries, held on the sidelines of a meeting in Nara, western Japan, of patent office chiefs from Japan and the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Japan has already begun to share such information with the United States, China, South Korea and the European Union. The Japan Patent Office will make information on the state of patent applications in Singapore and the Philippines available on its website. Through the measure, the office hopes to help Japanese companies expand into Southeast Asian countries. At the Japan-ASEAN patent meeting, participants agreed that Japan will provide its know-how to the ASEAN members to help them join the international trademark application system at an early date. END