JPO Established AI Examination Support Team

JPO Established AI Examination Support Team

In order to develop an environment for more efficient and high-quality examination of AI-related inventions, the Japan Patent Office (hereinafter referred to as “JPO”) has established the AI Examination Support Team, which cooperates across the technical fields of each examination department, to accumulate and share the latest knowledge on AI-related technologies and examination cases, as well as consider related patent examination measures.

1. Background

In recent years, AI-related technologies have developed remarkably, mainly in deep learning, and patent applications for inventions related to AI-related technologies (hereinafter referred to as “AI-related inventions”) have increased in various fields.

Under such circumstances, JPO has promoted efforts to improve the transparency and predictability of examination of AI-related inventions in Japan and overseas through the addition and publication of examination cases concerning AI-related technologies and an international symposium by five major patent offices of Japan, the United States, Europe, China and South Korea based on the examination cases.

AI-related technology is inter-disciplinary, and it is necessary not only to understand the state of the art of AI but also to accurately grasp the applications of AI in various technical fields. Therefore, it would be important to cooperate beyond the technical fields in which each examination department is in charge.

Therefore, in order to realize efficient and high-quality examination of AI-related inventions, JPO has prepare the examination environment as follows.

2. Improvement of the examination environment for AI-related inventions

JPO established the AI Examination Support Team, which is an internal organization comprised of administrators and AI officers. The team is responsible for developing the examination environment for AI-related inventions.

The AI Examination Support Team will work together across the technical fields in charge to accumulate and share the latest knowledge on AI-related technologies and case examples of examinations, as well as establish related patent examination policies.

AI officers serve as a “hub” for the examination of AI-related inventions. They gather the findings of each examination department and provide support for the realization of efficient and high-quality examination by responding to consultation from examiners outside the AI examination support team.