Utilization of IP Information · • Want to get a patent map → [Improve development efficiency] [Build PPF] Technology trend search / Consulting-type search • Want to know what

November 7, 2019

FUJIFILM Intellectual Property Research Co., Ltd.

Fellow

Kiyotaka Kaneko

JPO/IPR Training "Informatization Course"

Utilization of IP Information in the Fujifilm Group

Contents

Self Introduction

Introduction of the Fujifilm Group

Patent Searches in the Fujifilm

Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues

2

1

3

2

4

Copyright(c) 2019 FUJIFILM Intellectual Property Research Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved.

3

1. Self Introduction 1


1. Self Introduction (Career Summary)

Kiyotaka Kaneko

Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (currently, FUJIFILM Corporation)

1982 - Electronic Imaging Div.

1995 - Intellectual Property Div.

FUJIFILM Intellectual Property Research Co., Ltd.

2014 - (present)

I also serve as a committee member for organizations including ATIS (Association of Technical Information Services) and JBMIA (Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association).

4 Copyright(c) 2019 FUJIFILM Intellectual Property Research Co., Ltd. All Right Reserved.

2. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group

5

2



https://www.fujifilm.com/about/profile/


Company Profile Beginning in 1934 as Japan's pioneering photographic film maker, Fujifilm has leveraged its imaging and information technology to become a global presence known for innovation in healthcare, graphic arts, optical devices, highly functional materials and other high-tech areas.



(As of the end of March, 2019)


Fujifilm Group Holding Company

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation

Operating Companies Shared Services Company

FUJIFILM

Corporation Fuji Xerox

Co., Ltd.

FUJIFILM Business

Expert Corporation

FUJIFILM

Intellectual Property

Research Co., Ltd.

Subsidiaries Subsidiaries


(As of the end of March, 2019) https://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/business/group/index.html


https://www.fujifilmholdings.com/en/business/group/index.html




FUJIFILM Corporation Group Companies FUJIFILM Corporation and its group companies develop, produce and market products in the Imaging Solutions business (color films, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment and color paper, chemicals and services for photofinishing) and Healthcare & Material Solutions business (equipment and materials for medical diagnostics and life science, equipment and materials for graphic arts, flat panel display materials, recording media, optical devices, electronic materials and inkjet materials).

FUJIFILM Business Expert Corporation A shared services company of Fujifilm Group in Japan, which integrates the administrative, human resource, insurance agency, indirect material purchasing and travel agency functions for the Group companies.

Fuji Xerox Group Companies Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. and its group companies develop, produce and market products in the Document Solutions business (office copy machines/multifunction devices, printers, production systems and services, paper, consumables and office services).

FUJIFILM Intellectual Property Research Co., Ltd. A shared services company of Fujifilm Group cooperating with Intellectual Property department and Research & Development department of the Group companies to enhance competitiveness of the Group companies, which provides services of patent search, information analysis, business development strategy, foreign patent filings, and related clerical works thereof to the Group companies using expertness and know-how.


Source: Integrated Report 2019 (FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation)

2-1. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (Business Fields)


2-2. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (Business Portfolio)


11

Breakdown of

Group Business

Revenue


2-3. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (R&D Investment)

R&D expenses / Ratio of R&D expenses to revenue

12



2-4. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (Japanese Patents)

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

Number of patent applications (2017)

Number of requests for patent examination

(2017)

Number of patents granted (2018)

Fuji Xerox

FUJIFILM

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

Rate of requests for patent

examination (applications in

2015)

Rate of international applications

(2016)

Rate of patents registered (2018)

FUJIFILM

Fuji Xerox

［%］

［Number]

Source: Graphed based on data from "Japan Patent Office Annual Report 2019" (Japan Patent Office)


出典： https://www.ificlaims.com/rankings.htm

14

Company 2018 Grants 2017 Grants % Change Previous Rank Rank Change

50 Fujifilm Corp 658 695 -5 47 -3

2018 Top 50 US Patent Assignees

The Top 50 and related rankings from IFI provide insights into the most innovative companies and R&D organizations. Our CLAIMS Direct platform processes thousands of new patent documents every day and standardizes the data, enabling quick and accurate analysis.


2-5. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (U.S. Patents)

https://www.ificlaims.com/rankings.htm


2-5. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (U.S. Patents) <Continued>

15

2018 Ultimate Patent Owners

Rank Ultimate Owner Ticker Symbol Active Families

1 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. KRX:005930 61,608

2 Canon Inc. TYO:7751 34,905

3 International Business Machines Corp NYSE:IBM 34,376

4 General Electric Co. NYSE:GE 29,021

5 Robert Bosch GmbH Private 26,312

6 Panasonic Corp. TYO:6752 25,742

7 Siemens AG ETR:SIE 25,154

8 Microsoft Corp. NASDAQ:MSFT 24,839

9 Intel Corp. NASDAQ:INTC 24,773

10 Qualcomm Inc. NASDAQ:QCOM 20,315

11 Nokia Oyj NYSE:NOK 19,909

12 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. TWSE:2317 19,485

13 Alphabet Inc. NASDAQ:GOOGL 19,228

14 Sony Corp. TYO:6758 18,981

15 Fujitsu Ltd. TYO:6702 18,259

16 Fujifilm Holdings Corp. TYO:4901 17,867 17 Hitachi Ltd. TYO:6501 17,597

18 Toyota Motor Corp. TYO:7203 17,213

19 LG Electronics Inc. KRX:066570 17,164

20 General Motors Co. NYSE:GM 14,987

This new analysis calculates the world's largest active patent holders, including subsidiaries, as a snapshot in time as of December 31, 2018. Source: https://www.ificlaims.com/rankings.htm




2-6. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (IP Function)


Intellectual property functions working as intelligence for formulating management/business strategies

President / management layer / management planning departments

Formulation of medium-term management plans / medium- and long-term business strategies

(Extraction of future business fields with a high possibility of success)

Business departments / R&D departments, etc. Provision of evidence for allocation of human resources and

discussions of themes Clarification of entry risks and opportunities (in the fields where the company is strong)

Strategy formulating functions (Dedicated / full-time)

Information analysis subsidiary

Source: Extracted and edited the examples of FUJIFILM from "Intellectual Property Strategy Case Studies in Management" (Japan Patent Office)

.

Based on patent-related information (papers, press releases, etc.), strategy is shared with relevant departments

and the future is predicted.

Based on patent-related information (papers, press releases, etc.), strategy is shared with relevant departments

and the future is predicted.

IP DIV. (report directly to the president)

Important points of the strategy

FUJIFILM pays attention to a wide variety of “information” included in patent rights, and combines this with various publicly available information. The company's intellectual property also functions as “intelligence”, therefore, as it presents information that is useful for formulating management strategies.

When making proposals to the management level, for example, an IP landscape of potential competitors is created, and a comparison between competitors and ourselves is made in order to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each company. In this way, future business fields with a higher probability of success are extracted and proposed to management.

As the information available from the market is limited, analysis based on patent information is particularly invaluable for business fields that the company is considering entering in the future.

The company has accumulated know-how by carrying out such practices for 7-8 years through trial and error.

2-7. Introduction of the Fujifilm Group (Approach to IP)

Approach to intellectual property The Fujifilm Group engages in intellectual property activities to ensure that the value of our business undertakings created in various settings always gives us a competitive edge.

The extent of our activities is quite broad ranging; for example, in addition to hitherto typical activities like assisting the ranging from strategic analyses of competitors and addressing industry standards for the purpose of achieving business superiority.

By collaborating with business departments and R&D departments to create and harness strong intellectual property, we can contribute to business growth, mitigate business risks, and seek to enhance corporate value.

17



3. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM

18

3


3. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (Overall Picture)

Theme searches Development Commercialization Production/sales

Patent monitoring (SDI)

Prior art searches (Prior art searches)

(Invalidity searches)

Consulting-type searches

FTO searches Technology trend searches

Upstream Intellectual creation cycle

Downstream

Business support Intelligence activities Creation / protection of IP by obtaining rights / utilization

Invalidity searches

19

Commercialization steps and patent research


Search tool

・Services

How

What

3-1. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (Four Elements)

20

Data Sources


To clarify the purpose of client searches, and decide the search method/type

The following are search purpose examples:

• Want to decide research themes → [Improve development efficiency] Consulting-type search

• Want to know R&D trends in other companies → [Improve development efficiency] Technology trend search / Consulting-type search

• Want to protect my research results → [Build PPF] Prior art search

• Want to file patent applications → [Build PPF] Prior art search

• Want to make sure that the invention does not conflict with other company's patents → [Avoid patent risks] FTO search

• Want to invalidate patents that can become obstacles to my invention → [Avoid patent risks] [Improve development efficiency] Invalidity search

• Want to make sure the validity of our company’s patents → [Build PPF] Prior art search

• Want to get a patent map → [Improve development efficiency] [Build PPF] Technology trend search / Consulting-type search

• Want to know what patents the license negotiation partner holds → [Utilize] Consulting-type search / Invalidity search

• Want to find an M&A partner → [Utilize] Consulting-type search / Technology trend search

• Want to find a company that will implement our technology → [Improve development efficiency] Technology trend search / Consulting-type search

• Want to utilize our company’s patent → [Utilize] Prior art search / Consulting-type search

Role of Searchers

21

PPF: Patent Portfolio

FTO: Freedom To Operate


(Reference)

We use our own patent search system and/or external search tools (database) depending on the purpose and design of the search.

Patent Search Tools (Database)

22

Search Tools (Database) Other services

companies

Patent search system

Fujifilm Group


(Reference)

3-2. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (Prior Art Search)

23

Flow of prior art search (prior art search before filing application)

Understanding the invention

Certifying the invention

Understanding technical contents

Understanding the scope of the patent claim

Creating search formulas

Determining the search database

Setting appropriate FI/F-terms and keywords

The prior art search conducted before submitting a patent application is a confirmation to make sure that the

subject invention has novelty and inventive step, and to confirm the scope of the prior art. A search is

conducted, mainly of patent literature.


Screening

Identifying the latest art (literature)

Preparing a search report

Comparison using claim charts

Adding comments about the novelty and inventive step


24

Actual flow of prior art search



Preliminary search (search / screening)

Main search (search / screening)

Preparing a search report

Evaluation

Evaluation

No GOOD

No GOOD



25

Characteristics of various search methods

Search method Advantages Disadvantages (points of caution)

FI/F-term • You can retrieve synonyms and geometric

features (shape / position) without omission.

• Even when there are two or more technical

terms indicating the concept, you can conduct

searches by entering one term.

• Also useful when there is no proper word

• As the range of the concept is broad, when the

concept is ambiguous, a lot of noise is picked up.

• Need to understand additional trends

Keyword • Useful especially when there are

characteristics in the term, substance

name or substance structure.

• You can use the keyword of the subject

in a direct manner.

• A lot of noise

• Retrieval omission may occur without full use of a

thesaurus and synonyms.

• Cannot use the method without proper words.

• Different depending on manufacturers

(applicants)

Points:

❶ Narrow down to a certain extent using FI and F-terms.

❷ Using keywords, decrease the number of patents so that you can screen them easily.

You are advised to use both search methods together.

Source: "Approach to Search and Preparation of Search Reports" (National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training)


1. Patent classifications granted to Japanese patents

As of June 2019, three patent classifications are allotted to Japanese patents: International Patent Classification (IPC), FI (File Index), and F-term (File Forming

Term).

1.1. International Patent Classification (IPC)

The International Patent Classification (IPC) is a globally common patent classification created for the purpose of facilitating the international use of patent literature

(documents containing details of each patent). The classification is described in the “Int.Cl.” section of the patent literature. As of June 2019, The IPC Eighth edition

(effective in January 2006) is the latest category, but revisions have been made as appropriate to flexibly respond to technological progress.

An overview of the IPC 8th edition, IPC classification table, update information, etc, is available on the Japan Patent Office's website,

"About the International Patent Classification (IPC)".

1.2. FI (File Index)

FI (File Index) is a unique patent classification adopted by the Japanese Patent Office, and is allotted to all Japanese patents that have been registered since the Meiji

era. FI, based on IPC, by adding a symbol at the end of IPC as necessary, enables further detailed classification than IPC. FI is largely based on the latest version of

IPC, but some are based on an older version.

In addition, in order to keep pace with technological advances, FIs in the necessary fields are revised once or twice a year. Whenever revisions are made, FIs allotted

to past Japanese patents are also reclassified retroactively.

1.3. F-term (File Forming Term)

F-term, like FI, is a unique patent classification adopted by the Japanese Patent Office. As of June 2019, the technical fields defined by FI have been classified into

approximately 2,600 technical areas called "themes". Out of these, about 1,800 themes are subdivided from multi-dimensional viewpoints (e.g. purpose, use, material,

control and control volume), and another patent classification, F-term (File Forming Term) is also allotted to them.

An F-term consists of a theme code, which is a five-digit code consisting of alphanumeric characters, two alphabetic characters expressing the "viewpoint" (a concept,

such as purpose, use and material, to classify multiple F terms together), and 2-digit figures. (Some themes have an additional single-digit figure called an “additional

code”.) For some themes, the first five alphanumeric characters are separately called a theme code, while the rest are called F-terms.

Information on theme codes, etc. is available on the JPO website, “List of F-term Theme Codes (Theme Code List)" and "Theme Revision Information".

・Structure of an F-term: 2E110 AA02

2E110 (theme code): expresses "wall finishing". The FI range covered by this theme code is “E04F13/00-13/18Z”.

AA02: expresses “fire prevention, fire resistance, heat resistance, heat insulation, flame retardant or non-flammable”.

Searching Japanese Patents based on FI/F-terms

26

What are FI and F-terms used for searching Japanese patents?

Source: "Search Japanese Patents based on Patent Classification" (National Diet Library)

Very useful system for searching patents efficiently


(Reference)

3-2. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (Prior art Search)

27

Searching techniques

Purpose of search Free keyword Controlled term Index term IPC classification

Preliminary search for search keys

Terms determined based on the theme analysis

Theme analysis Theme analysis Theme analysis

Do not use abstract terms from the information at hand

Search using thesauruses Preliminary search using a term list and the definition survey free keywords of each term

Understanding of the survey classification items with a preliminary keyword classification table using free keywords

Search for dominant concept

Difficult Easy Easy Easy

Even with abstract terms, fails to search

Searching can be difficult when the dictionary doesn't have that term

Depending on the composition of the term, this method is better if the hierarchical relationship is clear

Use classification to search with dominant concept

Synonyms Consider sufficiently It is enough if you search them in a dictionary

Consider referring to the definition of the term

No need to consider

Compound word Consider Depending on the dictionary No need to consider No need to consider

Search for the latest technology

Easy Difficult Difficult Difficult

It takes time until the terms related to new technologies are registered in dictionaries

It takes time until the terms related to new technologies are registered in dictionaries

For example, IPC revises its classification table only once every five years

Search for the product name

Easy Difficult Difficult Impossible

Search results, search efficiency

Precision ratio: High Precision ratio: High Precision ratio: High Precision ratio: Low to Medium

Recall ratio: Low Recall ratio: Medium Recall ratio: High Recall ratio: High

The above table shows just a general theory, and opposite results may occur depending upon the theme.

In that sense, the search purpose and the theme analysis are important. For most searches, a combination of search keys is common.

Source: "Intelligible patent databases for researchers" (Diamond Inc.)


3-3. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (FTO Searches)

28

FTO (freedom to operate) searches The FTO search is conducted to make sure that there are no risks of

intellectual property right infringement, and that business can be conducted freely.

Search planning

Determining technical elements and implementation manner

Identifying the country of manufacture, sales, etc.

Creating a search plan document


Setting the base date

Setting appropriate search criteria


Screening

Extraction of patents that may be related

Preparing search reports

Search criteria and results

Conclusion

3-4. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (Invalidity Searches)

29

Invalidity searches (Validity determination searches)

Invalidity searches involve prior art that can deny the novelty and inventive step of the subject patent. Although the surveys mainly focus on patent documents, non-patent documents should be searched when invalidation evidence cannot be obtained from patent documents.


Clarifying the invention

Understanding the technical contents

Understanding the scope of the patent claim


Setting the base date for invalidation

Setting appropriate survey conditions

Similar approach to prior art searches


Screening

Identifying prior disclosure documents

Preparing search reports

Search criteria and results

Comparison using claim charts

Adding comments about novelty and inventive step

Examining the possibility of amendment claims

3-5. Patent Searches in the FUJIFILM (Patent Monitoring)

30

Flow of patent monitoring (SDI)


Status change of the subject

Search criteria and/or Subject patent number

Registering search formulas

Setting search execution conditions

Patent monitoring refers to a mechanism to periodically and automatically distribute subject patent documents, and evaluate them by using the SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) function.


Distributing

Registering distribution destinations (project / member)

Distributing the information extracted by searching

Follow-up of delivery results

Evaluation status

Evaluation results

Determining the response policy based on evaluation results

SDI

31

About the SDI function Source: https://plidb.inpit.go.jp/info/sdi.html

The SDI (Selective Dissemination of Information) function is a service that automatically conducts searches

using pre-registered search formulas, and notifies the results by e-mail whenever the database is updated.

Open patent information to search

SDI function result notification

Searches using the SDI function are executed every weekend, and the search results are sent to the registered e-mail address.

There are two types of SDI function result notifications: "Batch transmission" and "Each SDI information”.

You will be notified by e-mail even if no applicable information was found in the search. You can change the result notification

option between “Batch transmission” and “Every SDI information” on the “Update SDI registered user information” screen.

New data Information newly registered in the licensable patent information database

Revised data Information that has been added to or modified from

information that has already been registered

Batch

transmission The search results based on SDI information (up to 99 items) are sent collectively

in a single e-mail. Up to 10 search results will be notified.

Each SDI

information The search results of the SDI information are sent by e-mail. Up to

1,000 search results of SDI information will be notified in a single e-mail.


(Reference)

https://plidb.inpit.go.jp/info/sdi.html

SDI

32

Flow of SDI functions

Source: https://www.jpo.go.jp/resources/report/sonota/service/document/h28-minkan/05.pdf

Intellectual Property Div.. In-house R&D Div..

Follow-up of transmission

results

Evaluation status

Evaluation results

Determine the response

policy based on the

evaluation results


SDI user Service operator SDI user

- Create search

formulas

- Register the search

formulas

- Set sending

destinations

- Update bulletin

information

- Execute search

- Regularly and

automatically receive

results by e-mail

The search results of the search

formula 1 are sent to the SDI

user A (1 person).

The search results of the search formula 2 are

sent to the SDI user A and B (2 persons).

SDI user A SDI user A SDI user B

(Reference)

Intellectual Property Div.

https://www.jpo.go.jp/resources/report/sonota/service/document/h28-minkan/05.pdf



4. Patent Searches:

Current Status and Issues

33

4








Downstream


Invalidity searches

34



4-1. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues








Downstream


Invalidity searches

35



For companies, patent searches involve a wide variety of tasks, all of which are important.

Analysis of intellectual property information is indispensable for strategically conducting activities in the areas

of business, R&D and intellectual property.

4-1. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues


4-2. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Recall/ Precision Ratios)

36

When increasing the number of patents to search in order to improve the recall ratio,

Noise increases while omissions decrease.

Improve recall ratio

Recall ratio

Omissions

Pre

cis

ion r

atio

Information

Noise

Patent research trade-offs



37

Improve precision ratio

Recall ratio

Pre

cis

ion r

atio

Information


When decreasing the number of patents to search without a due consideration

to improve the precision ratio: Noise decreases while omissions increase.

Omissions


Noise


38

When increasing the number of patents to search in order to improve the recall ratio,

Noise increases while omissions decrease.

Improve recall ratio

Improve precision ratio

Recall ratio

Omissions

Pre

cis

ion r

atio

Information

Noise

Classifications and controlled terms are very important for patent searches.


When decreasing the number of patents to search without a due consideration

to improve the precision ratio: Noise decreases while omissions increase.

Omissions


Noise

If you use keywords to limit the number of search items, the precision ratio will improve,

but although noise decreases, omissions will increase.

If you use classifications and controlled terms to limit the number of search items, the precision ratio

will improve while suppressing the decline in the recall ratio. (Both noise and omissions will decrease).

4-3. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Reduce searching man-hours)

39

Current status

Goal Reduce searching man-hours (review man-hours)

Want to reduce

only noise


Information

Noise

Patents necessary to review

Patents unnecessary to review

Important

Important patent information

40

4-4. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Increase in Number of Applications Filed)

The growing number of patent

applications filed worldwide


41

4-5. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Globalization)

Inventions are being created around the world


42

4-5. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Globalization)

Survey for finding business and research partners

Inventions are being created around the world


Current status


Want to reduce

only noise



Information

Noise



Important


Current status


Want to reduce

only noise



Information

Noise



Important


Goal

Current status

Reduce searching man-hours (review man-hours)

Efficient searches are indispensable in this age.

Want to reduce

only noise

4-7. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Translation)

45

The PCT now has 152 contracting states.

https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/pct_contracting_states.html

Patents filed via the PCT will be published in one of the following international languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish. When conducting search and screening of patent documents (patent specifications, etc.) that are published in languages other than those listed above, such documents must be translated into a language that searchers and reviewers can understand.


https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/pct_contracting_states.html

4-8. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Use of AI)

46

• Efforts to improve the efficiency of patent searches and analysis using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the translation of patent specifications and searches have been increasing in recent years. I have great expectations for this trend.

• Due to the nature of patent research, however, I believe that the current AI cannot be used for some patent research and patent analyses.

• Also, no matter how intelligent AI becomes, the importance of the data source (status, applicants, right holders, royalty payment status, etc.), as well as patent specifications, will not change.

• Additional information, such as classifications associated with data sources

and controlled words, are also significant for efficient patent research.

• Since we live in the era of AI, the maintenance of data sources and additional information has become more essential than ever.


Japan Patent Office

(Reference) Intellectual Property Information

(Data Sources and Additional Information)

47

Patent specifications

Bibliographic items

Examination proceedings

information

Patent holder information

Royalty payment information

Data sources


Japan Patent Office



48


Bibliographic items


information



Patent specifications +

classification information

Arrangement standardization

data


data


data


data

Japan Patent Office

Data sources Additional information


Japan Patent Office



49


Bibliographic items


information






data


data


data


data

Unique classification

information / controlled terms

Integration and consolidation

Alert information

Transfer information

Right expiration information

Japan Patent Office Information added by operating

entities (example)

Data sources Additional information Additional information


Japan Patent Office



50


Bibliographic items


information






data


data


data


data

Unique classification

information / controlled terms

Integration and consolidation

Alert information

Transfer information

Right expiration information

Japan Patent Office Information added by operating

entities (example)

Data sources Additional information Additional information


Requests for data sources and additional information as a user

Completeness

Accuracy

Revision time

Stable operation

Operability

Uniformity *

* standardization among different patent offices is desirable in terms of search fields, search formulas, search criteria, logical operation formulas, etc.

4-8. Patent Searches: Current Status and Issues (Summary)

51

Researchers and operators around the world, including in your countries, can enjoy many benefits by conducting patent searches or analyzing and utilizing patent information. Such benefits include:

1. Prevention of duplication in research efforts, investment, and filing of patent applications 2. Promotion of patent distribution 3. Avoidance of intellectual property-related disputes, etc.

The advancement of IT technology in recent years is the driving force of efforts to improve the efficiency of patent research and intellectual property information analysis. As for now, however, the ever-increasing number of patent applications submitted around the globe, and the fact that inventions are being created in various parts of the world, have resulted in an increasing the burden of patent search..

If additional patent information for data sources and searching are organized more quickly, accurately and comprehensively, and if the global standardization of data sources and additional information is promoted from the perspective of search target data, everyone would be able to conduct appropriate patent searches more easily.

I hope that in your countries as well, the organization and evolution of patent information will be promoted further so that patent information can be used more effectively.


52

Thank you very much for your attention.


53

Supplementary

Materials

(For Presentation)


(Reference) FI and F-term

55

FI and F-term used for search

FI (File Index) is a unique Japanese classification system for Japanese patent documents in technical areas. FI is basically a subdivision of the International Patent Classification (IPC) and necessary modifications have been added to the IPC. The FI structures are named as follows. The main feature of FI is that you can search from old to new documents all at once with the latest FI. This is because the system goes back to the past when a new FI is created, and a new FI symbol is given to the necessary documents. F-term (File Forming Term) is a subdivision of a large technical point of view (two alphabetic characters, such as AA). F-term is expressed as a four-digit code consisting of a 2-digit viewpoint code + 2-digit numbers (e.g. AA00). F-terms are often expressed by subdividing the structure, effect, purpose, etc. so that the features of the technology and invention described in the patent documents belonging to each theme can be distinguished easily. F-term searches are generally performed by combining multiple F-terms that can capture the features of the technology and the invention from multiple points of view. By doing so, the sets of documents including technical information related to these multiple F terms in common are formed mechanically. Users can select necessary documents from among these sets.


Source: "Approach to Searching and Preparation of Search Reports" (National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training)

Very useful system for

searching patents efficiently

Section (A to H)

Class

Sub-class

Main group

Extension

symbol

File discrimination

symbol

If the number after the slash is not 00 (e.g. C08L27/06), call it a sub-group.

(Reference) Controlled Vocabulary

56

About controlled terms used for searches

Controlled terms are the terms used in the database field, such as patent searches and literature searches, and whose scope and usage of meanings used exclusively for searching are restricted. In order to prevent omissions and duplications of searches caused by ambiguous word meanings or homographs/ synonyms during database searches, controlled vocabulary or a group of terms are predefined in the database so that a single term expresses a single concept.

Searches

Classification searches

Keyword searches

Natural word searches

Controlled term searches


57

Total applications worldwide Worldwide filings for patents, trademarks and industrial designs

reached record heights in 2017.

* refers to class count – the total number of goods and services/classes specified in trademark applications.

** refers to design count – the total number of designs included in industrial design applications.

n.a. indicates not available. China’s 2017 data are not comparable with its previous year’s data for patent, utility model and industrial design

applications due to a change in how this office counts the applications it receives. As China accounts for large shares of global filings for these IP

rights, it is not possible to report accurate 2017 worldwide growth rates.

Source: WIPO Statistics Database, September 2018


Source: WIPO IP Facts and Figures 2018

58

Percentage shares of total patent applications by the top five offices

EPO is the European Patent Office.

Source: WIPO Statistics Database, September 2018.

The top five offices accounted for around 85% of the global total.



59

Top 10 origins of international PCT applications

China became the second largest

user of the PCT System in 2017.



Top 10 offices for number of patent applications

60

n.a. indicates not available. China’s 2017 data is not comparable with its

previous year’s data due to a change in how this office counts the applications

it receives. For this reason, it is not possible to report China’s 2017 growth

rate. EPO is the European Patent Office.

Source: WIPO Statistics Database, September 2018.

China received 1.38 million patent applications,

more than double the number received by the U.S.



Top 10 offices for number of utility model applications

61


n.a. indicates not available. China’s 2017 data are not comparable with its previous year’s data due to a change in how this office counts the applications it receives. For this reason, it is not possible to report China’s 2017 growth rate. Source: WIPO Statistics Database, September 2018.


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