Alan is quite right about the dearth on JP-U data. There is a search
system called PATOLIS which includes utility models, but to date this is
almost exclusively in Japanese. However, they are developing a
web-based version with an English-language search interface, which is
due to come on-stream during 2000. Most of the data will be still in
Japanese, but the search form will be in English. Eventually, there are
plans to move to on-the-fly translation of the data fields as well.
If it's any consolation, research suggests that most utility model
systems (at present - this could change if/when the Community utility
model comes in) are used principally by nationals of that country to
obtain local protection for a small-scale invention. This means that
most Japanese utility models are applied for by Japanese nationals and
do not accumulate a large family of equivalents, if any at all. That's
not to say that they aren't worth bothering about - they still represent
a considerable volume of publications entering the prior art which are
not at all easy to find for anyone outside of Japan.
If you have a particular case which you wanted to get details on,
contact the Japanese information service at the EPO Vienna office (Irene
Schellner is a good contact). They provide broker access to PATOLIS and
can interpret the results for you.
-- Stephen Adams Magister Ltd. Crown House, 231 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 4LS, GB Tel: +44 (0)118 929 9515 Fax: +44 (0)118 929 9516 e-mail: stevea@magister.co.ukRegistered in England and Wales. Company No. 3407685 Registered address : Canada House, 272 Field End Road, Eastcote, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 9NA.
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