Consistent with the recent globalization, intellectual property is increasingly considered of value as a management tool. In order to utilize intellectual property as a legally protected right, not as a know-how right, it is generally required in every country to pass several procedures, i.e., application, examination and registration to finally obtain the right. However, it is necessary to take complicated steps to obtain the right, which also comes at a high cost. Thus, from the standpoint of efficiently completing procedures and preventing extra costs, search, analysis and patent mapping play important roles.
Careful attention should be paid to competitors' application trends, and it is also necessary to make enough preparations in case of a conflict arising from an infringement of rights. It would also be possible to keep an eye on the trend of your competitors' applications through appropriate search and analysis. If a conflict occurs, a legal opinion of the right, etc. based on a thorough search and analysis will be useful. Patent mapping, which analyzes the collected information from various points of view, is useful for not only understanding past trends, but also for predicting future trends.

Further, when you develop a new product, it is very important to consider the possibility of infringement of your intellectual property by other companies at every stage, from planning the development theme to the production and sales of the final product, and to avoid these conflicts in advance.
Therefore, at various stages, before application to after patent grant, or from planning of the development theme to the production and sales of the final product, "Search, Analysis and Patent Mapping" will be necessary.
We have started our new service, "Search, Analysis and Patent Mapping ", and more than ever we endeavor to provide you with procedural support for obtaining intellectual property and the protections thereof. By making full use of our accumulated search skills, we guarantee to provide you with search and analysis services responsive to your individual needs.

Information

• Introducing Patent Search
• JPO publishes data on its website concerning International Patent Classification (IPC), FI, F-term

List of Search and Analysis Services

*The following lists are indicated by way of example only.

[Search and Analysis before grant of right] Prior art search Application trend search of competitors Collection of documents for submitting them through the procedure known as Offer of Information

[Search and Analysis after grant of right] Validity search Search for invalidity references/publicly known references Freedom to Operate Search(FTO search) Expert opinion on Infringement Collection of documents for submitting them through the procedure known as Offer of Information after grant of patent

[Patent Mapping] Examination of the course of research and development Understand and predict the technological trends of competitors Confirmation of your patent blanket Analysis of technological trends in a particular field ( Patent Office website:About Patent Mapping by Technical Fields )

[Trademark] Search before filing application Foreign Trademark Search Watching Strategy on Non-use

[Design] Search during the development/ pre-sale stage Search following the receipt of a Warning letter

[Other Search and Analysis] Application process information search Collecting information on the Japanese Intellectual Property System Collecting information on Foreign Intellectual Property Systems Search and analysis of trial decisions/precedents

Flow of Search and Analysis

Inquiries/requests about Search and Analysis

Please contact us at:
e-mail: (About patent/utility model search)
e-mail: (About trademark/design search)
Facsimile: +81-6-6351-5664

Features of Our Firm

・We provide high quality services through the combination of accumulated expertise in research and broad range of analytical skills attributable to being an international patent firm.
・Because we are an international firm doing patent agent business globally, we are able to conduct search and analysis taking into account of both national and international applications.
・The essence of our advanced understanding of technical features of inventions and holding a high level of analytical skills to conduct an on-target search and analysis derives from our experienced patent attorneys and technical staff.
・With experienced engineers conducting the searches and our patent attorneys evaluating/judging the results, we are able to provide advanced and strategic one-stop search, analysis and patent mapping services.
・We provide total support for the establishment of a patent blanket. From making a specification of the invention to obtaining the right, in which the patent attorneys/technical experts conducting the search work for your application strategies, such as attending an invention discovery meeting, etc.
・Via our global network of foreign patent attorneys we are able to easily collect worldwide information and references on intellectual property.
・Our vastly experienced internal translators provide high quality translation of the references and reports of the search results.
・We provide flexible, customer-focused services that respond to individual requests.
Ex) We could provide various searches even if they are not in the above list, " List of Search and Analysis Services ".
We could comply with your requests about search method and time limit, etc.
・We are able to provide choices for a special search method, in which you are able to customize the type and contents of the search and analysis according to your subject.

Ex) - In the case of conducting a combination search between the search before filing an application and the technological trend search of competitors;
Through the search of effectiveness of your application as well as the search for technological trends or application trends of the competitors　in comparison with your company, you will be able to comprehend the effectiveness of your own application more exactly.

- In the case of conducting a combination search and analysis between the trademark registration application trend of competitors and information on intellectual property systems in certain countries;
as a result of the search and analysis for the trend of international trademark registration applications of major companies, it turns out that a number of the applications are filed in a certain country/ region, and it is generally considered that the country/region is an attractive market where the actual market development has already been done regarding the subject products. Then, we will collect the information on the intellectual property systems in such country/region, and in view of the search result, you will be able to establish your strategies for intellectual property.

Researchers

Competent researchers in our firm, i.e., patent attorneys, technical experts, specialized staff with expertise and experience in patent and trademarks, as well as highly experienced researchers, will cooperate with each other to conduct the search and analysis. Based on the contents of your request the appropriate researcher(s) will be selected.

Fees

Since the fees will vary depending on the contents and the report forms of the search and analysis, please contact us with the details and we will provide you with a cost estimation. It is also possible to conduct a search and analysis within your desired scope and/or budget.

Due date

We make sure to provide the search report by the designated deadline.
Depending on the contents of the search, we may require some time to complete a satisfactory search. Your kind understanding in this regard is highly appreciated.
Ex) In the case of a trademark search:
Online search - report within 3 working days
Full search - report within 5 working days
Figure search - negotiable