Top of Notices Top of Notices   (399)  December 29, 2020 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE Print This Notice 1481 CNOG  2816 

PCT, International Applications Referenced Items (394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419)
(399) Modification to the Arrangement between the United States Patent
        and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office Concerning
      Action of the Japan Patent Office as an International Searching
       Authority and Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent
       Cooperation Treaty for International Applications Received by
              the United States Patent and Trademark Office

   Whereas an Arrangement between the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (hereinafter "USPTO") and the Japan Patent Office (hereinafter
"JPO") Concerning Action of the JPO as an International Searching Authority
and Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty for
International Applications Received by the USPTO exists and is currently
effective through June 30, 2018.

   Consistent with Sections 7(2) and 8 of said Arrangement, the USPTO and
the JPO ("the Participants") seek to renew this Arrangement with the
following modifications:

   A. Section 1 of the Arrangement is hereby replaced by the following:

      (1) The JPO intends to act as an International Searching Authority
      and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent
      Cooperation Treaty for international applications filed with the
      USPTO as Receiving Office insofar as the following conditions are
      met:

         (i) the international applications are submitted in the English
          language and

         (ii) The JPO has not received more than 8,400 international
         applications from the USPTO during the 5-year period from July 1,
         2018, to June 30, 2023, and not more than 300 applications per
         quarter during the first and second years, and not more than 500
         applications per quarter during the third, fourth, and fifth
         years.

      (2) Consistent with paragraph (1), the JPO intends to act as an
      International Preliminary Examining Authority only where the JPO had
      acted as the International Searching Authority.

      (3) The USPTO intends to inform the International Bureau, pursuant to
      the Patent Cooperation Treaty (hereinafter the "PCT") Rules 35 and
      59, that the JPO is competent for the searching and international
      preliminary examination under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section
      of this Arrangement.

   B. Section 4 of the Arrangement is hereby replaced by the following:

      Conduct of technical and procedural matters including transfer of
      fees and exchange of documents is as specified in Annex A of this
      arrangement.

   C. Section 7 of the Arrangement is hereby replaced by the following:

      (1) This Arrangement comes into effect upon July 1, 2015.

      (2) The USPTO and the JPO intend that this Arrangement end on
      June 30, 2023, or upon the termination of the Agreement between the
      JPO and the International Bureau if such termination is earlier. The
      USPTO and the JPO may continue this Arrangement by mutual written
      consent upon any renewal of the said Agreement between the JPO and
      the International Bureau.

   D. Section 11 of the Arrangement is hereby replaced by the following:

Top of Notices Top of Notices   (399)  December 29, 2020 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE 1481 CNOG  2817 

      Annex A is part of this Arrangement.

   E. Section 12 of the Arrangement is hereby modified to replace the words
   "Annex B" with the words "Annex A."

   F. Annexes A and B are deleted and replaced with Annex A as included in
   Attachment 1 to this Modification.

   G. All other Sections of the original Arrangement remain unchanged by
   this Modification.

   H. This Modification becomes effective upon signature by both
   participants.

June 29, 2018                                                 June 29, 2018

For the United States Patent                    For the Japan Patent Office
and Trademark Office

ANDREI IANCU                                                 NAOKO MUNAKATA
Under Secretary of Commerce for                     Commissioner of the JPO
Intellectual Property and
Director of the USPTO

                               [1454 OG 52]