A2-1 A patent is property right, which has a limited duration, connected to an invention. Patent rights are given in exchange for the patent right holders' disclosing the arts used in their inventions. A patent right is a right granted to a person or entity.
Anyone filing for a patent right must satisfy specific requirements stipulated in Japan's Patent Act in order to obtain a patent right.
Under the Patent Act, an "invention" is defined as a "highly advanced creation of technical ideas by which the laws of nature are utilized". In addition, the invention needs to meet the following requirements.
- Industrial applicability
- Novelty
- Inventive step
- Must be the first-filed application for the subject patent, i.e. meet the "first-to-file" requirement
- Complies with public order and morality