Japan Patent Attorneys Association

The JPAA started its educational activities in 1962 and established the Training Institute in 1978. The Training Institute offers a number of training and continuing education courses and programs for new and experienced JPAA members. The training program for new members is divided into two parts, one in spring and the other in autumn, each part consisting of about 20 courses of intensive study covering many topics ranging from patent application procedures and studies of judicial cases to international application procedures. The focus of the training for experienced members is primarily on the substantive patent and trademark laws, as well as PCT, EPC, and U.S. patent procedures and the patent procedures of other countries. It also includes litigation, copyright, unfair competition laws, and a number of other areas in which the role of patent attorneys is expected to expand. JPAA has recently introduced an e-learning system, offering its educational programs to its members via the Internet.

The JPAA is very active internationally. The JPAA hosts regular meetings with the KPAA, the ACPAA, and the AIPLA in order to promote better mutual understanding among respective groups about various IP systems. The JPAA has also had meetings and other exchanges with the CIPA and other patent attorney associations. The JPAA regularly sends its delegates to WIPO sessions to participate in discussions concerning international IP systems. The JPAA has made significant contributions to APIC training courses, which are organized by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation and sponsored by the Japan Patent Office. The JPAA regularly sends lecturers for programs provided by the APIC, and the APIC training courses have been attended by more than 1,000 trainees from the APEC and other countries since 1996. JPAA regularly makes available in English such information as revisions of the Japanese IP laws and changes in practice before the Japan Patent Office. Information such as revisions of intellectual property laws and practice, treaties, and Patent Office and court decision in foreign countries is provided in Japanese to JPAA members.

The JPAA has a research arm – the IP Research Institute – where researchers study and research a wide variety of matters relating to industrial property. The researchers at the Institute include not only patent attorneys but also scholars. In addition, various committees of the JPAA are studying and researching specific topics. Committees include the Patent Committee, Design Committee, Trademark Committee, Computer Software Committee, and Biotechnology Committee. The findings by these committees are published in the magazine "PATENT" and made available to the public.[6][7]

JPAA also runs the IP Assistance and Support Center for the purposes of enlightening and popularizing the IP system by educating the general public about the roles of the IP system in our society. The Patent Attorneys who volunteer their time and resources help give lectures at schools and organize meetings where people can consult about IP issues. The JPAA assists with invention contests and provides financial assistance to small businesses.

JPAA organizes and operates the Arbitration Center for IP rights under joint control with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. The Arbitration Center is an extrajudicial organization that can resolve disputes very quickly (basically within three months) and privately (in closed sessions, out of court). The arbitrators are selected from Patent Attorneys and Attorneys at Law. The judgment of the arbitrator(s) will constitute the final judgment and no appeal to the court can be made. Arbitration has an advantage over judicial proceeding in that the expenses for arbitration are likely to be considerably less.

JPAA publishes the monthly magazine "PATENT" and the monthly newsletter "JPAA Journal". In addition to these periodical publications, JPAA makes available a guidebook and/or a brochure for people who are not familiar with the IP system and the roles of Patent Attorneys. JPAA has its own web site (http://www.jpaa.or.jp/), which makes available information about the activities of JPAA, topics about the industrial property system, revisions of related laws, judicial precedents, and so forth. JPAA holds monthly meetings with people from the news media and cooperates with broadcast media by providing them with information relating to IP issues and other related topics.