“The Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts” (Act No. 3 of 2019) was promulgated on May 17, 2019 and the revised Design Act will come into force on April 1, 2020.  Revisions to the Design Act include a wide variety of revisions such as 1) expansion of the scope of protection, 2) reworking of the related design system, 3) change of the duration of design rights, 4) streamlining of the procedure for filing an application for design registration, and 5) expansion of indirect infringement acts.  The Examination Guidelines for Design have also been revised so as to conform to the revised Design Act.
 While an inspection system is planned to be introduced in Autumn 2020, the exact date of enforcement has not yet been determined.

■Revised Design Act – Information Relating to JPO■

<Revised Examination Guidelines for Design>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/laws/rule/guideline/design/shinsa_kijun/index.html (English)

<Appended Tables 1 and 2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Design Act>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/laws/rule/other/design/ishou_kisoku_betuhyo.html (English)

<Guide for Making Applications and Drawings for Design Registration>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/laws/rule/guideline/design/h23_zumen_guideline.html (Japanese only)

<Information for Building and Interior Designers>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/laws/rule/guideline/design/kenchiku-naiso-joho.html (Japanese only)

<METI Ordinance for Partial Revision of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Design Act (METI Ordinance No. 14 of March 10, 2020)>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/laws/rule/syoreikaisei/isho/ishoho-20200310.html (Japanese only)

<Text of 2019 Explanatory Meeting for Examination Guidelines for Designs>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/news/shinchaku/event/seminer/text/isho_text_2019.html (Japanese only)

<Japanese Classification for Industrial Designs (to be enforced on April 1, 2020)>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/design/gaiyo/bunrui/isyou_bunrui/index.html (Japanese only)

<Pamphlet Issued by the JPO for the Revised Design Act>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/resources/report/sonota-info/pamphlet.html#isho_kaisei_en (English)

<Cabinet Order Specifying the Date of Enforcement of the Act on Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts (Cabinet Order No. 145 of November 7, 2019)>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/system/laws/rule/seireikaisei/tokkyo/tokkyo_sekou_r0111.html (Japanese only)

<The Act on the Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts (Act No. 3 of May 17, 2019)>
https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/laws/rule/hokaisei/tokkyohoutou_kaiei_20190517.html (English)