Japan

Patent Act (Act No. 121 of April 13, 1959, as last amended by Act No. 47 of May 23, 2003)

Year of current version:	2004
Date of last amendment:	May 23, 2003
Date of entry into force of original text:	April 13, 1959
Date of Text (Enacted):	January 1, 2004
Type of Text:	Main IP Laws: enacted by the Legislature
Subject Matter:	Competition, Enforcement of IP and Related Laws, Industrial Designs, Industrial Property, IP Regulatory Body, Patents (Inventions), Trademarks, Utility Models
Available Texts:
English	Patent Act (Act No. 121 of April 13, 1959, as last amended by Act No. 47 of May 23, 2003)
Historical Versions:	Supersedes Patent Act (Act No. 121 of April 13, 1959, as last amended by Act No. 220 of December 22, 1999) (JP036) Patent Act (Act No. 121 of April 13, 1959, as last amended by Act No. 116 of December 14, 1994) (JP006) Is superseded by Patent Act (Act No. 121 of April 13, 1959, as last amended by Act No. 16 of April 18, 2008) (JP101) Patent Act (Act No. 121 of 13 April 1959, as last amended in 2006) (JP156) Patent Act (Act No. 121 of April 13, 1959, as last amended by Act No. 79 of June 4, 2004) (JP062)
WIPO Lex No.:	JP052