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1PatentAct(ActNo.121ofApril13,1959)ChapterIGeneralProvisions(Purpose)Article1ThepurposeofthisActis,throughpromotingtheprotectionandtheutilizationofinventions,toencourageinventions,andtherebytocontributetothedevelopmentofindustry.(Definitions)Article2(1)InventioninthisActmeansthehighlyadvancedcreationoftechnicalideasutilizingthelawsofnature.(2)PatentedinventioninthisActmeansaninventionforwhichapatenthasbeengranted.(3)WorkingofaninventioninthisActmeansthefollowingacts:(i)inthecaseofaninventionofaproduct(includingacomputerprogram,etc.,thesameshallapplyhereinafter),producing,using,assigning,etc.(assigningandleasingand,inthecasewheretheproductisacomputerprogram,etc.,includingprovidingthroughanelectrictelecommunicationline,thesameshallapplyhereinafter),exportingorimporting,orofferingforassignment,etc.(includingdisplayingforthepurposeofassignment,etc.,thesameshallapplyhereinafter)thereof;(ii)inthecaseofaninventionofaprocess,theusethereof;and(iii)inthecaseofaninventionofaprocessforproducingaproduct,inadditiontotheactionasprovidedintheprecedingitem,actsofusing,assigning,etc.,exportingorimporting,orofferingforassignment,etc.theproductproducedbytheprocess.(4)Acomputerprogram,etc.inthisActmeansacomputerprogram(asetofinstructionsgiventoanelectroniccomputerwhicharecombinedinordertoproduceaspecificresult,hereinafterthesameshallapplyinthisparagraph)andanyotherinformationthatistobeprocessedbyanelectroniccomputerequivalenttoacomputerprogram.(Calculationoftimeperiods)Article3(1)ThecalculationoftimeperiodsunderthisActoranyorderissuedunderthisActshallbemadeinaccordancewiththefollowingprovisions.(i)Thefirstdayoftheperiodshallnotbeincludedinthecalculation;provided,however,thatthisshallnotapplywheretheperiodoftimecommencesat200:00hours.(ii)Wheretheperiodisindicatedbymonthsoryears,suchmonthsoryearsshallrefertocalendarmonthsorcalendaryears.Wheretheperiodisnotcalculatedfromthebeginningofamonthorayear,theperiodshallexpireontheprecedingdayofthedaycorrespondingtothefirstdayofthecalculationinthelastmonthoryear;provided,however,thatwherethereisnocorrespondingdayinthelastmonth,theperiodshallexpireonthelastdayofthelastmonth.(2)Wherethelastdayoftheprescribedperiodforanyproceduresrelatingtoapatent(hereinafterreferredtoasprocedures)includingfilingapatentapplicationandarequest,isanyofthedaysprovidedforinArticle1(1)oftheActonHolidaysofAdministrativeOrgans(ActNo.91of1988),thedayfollowingsuchdayshallbethelastdayoftheperiod.(Extensionoftimelimits,etc.)Article4TheCommissionerofthePatentOfficemay,uponrequestorexofficio,extendtheperiodprovidedforinArticles46-2(1)(iii),108(1),121(1)and173(1),forapersoninaremoteareaoranareawithtransportationdifficulty.Article5(1)WheretheCommissionerofthePatentOffice,thechieftrialexaminer,ortheexaminerhasdesignatedatimelimitbywhichproceduresaretobeundertakenunderthisAct,thesaidofficialmay,uponrequestorexofficio,extendthetimelimit.(2)WherethechieftrialexaminerhasdesignatedaspecificdateunderthisAct,thesaidofficialmay,uponrequestorexofficio,changesuchdate.(Capacityofassociations,etc.whicharenotjuridicalpersonstoundertakeprocedures)Article6(1)Anassociationorfoundationwhichisnotajuridicalpersonbutforwhicharepresentativeoranadministratorhasbeendesignatedmay,initsname:(i)filearequestforexaminationofanapplication;(ii)filearequestforatrialforpatentinvalidationoratrialforinvalidationoftheregistrationofextensionofduration;and(iii)filearequestforaretrialinaccordancewithArticle171(1),againstafinalandbindingdecisioninatrialforpatentinvalidationoratrialforinvalidationoftheregistrationofextensionofduration.(2)Anassociationorfoundationwhichisnotajuridicalpersonbutforwhicharepresentativeoranadministratorhasbeendesignatedmaybenamedasademandeeinarequestfiledforaretrialagainstafinalandbindingdecisioninatrialforpatentinvalidationoratrialforinvalidationoftheregistrationof3extensionofduration.(Capacityofminorsoradultwardsetc.toundertakeprocedures)Article7(1)Minorsoradultwardsmaynotundertakeproceduresexceptthroughtheirstatutoryrepresentatives;provided,however,thatthisshallnotapplywhereaminoriscapableofindependentlyperformingajuristicact.(2)Whereapersonundercuratorshipundertakesprocedures,theconsentofacuratorisrequired.(3)Whereastatutoryrepresentativeundertakesprocedures,theconsentofasupervisoroftheguardian,ifany,isrequired.(4)Whereanadversepartyfilesarequestforatrialorretrialinvolvingapersonundercuratorshiporastatutoryrepresentative,theprecedingtwoparagraphsshallnotapply.(Patentadministratorsforoverseasresidents)Article8(1)UnlessotherwiseprovidedforbyCabinetOrder,nopersondomiciledorresident(or,inthecaseofajuridicalperson,withabusinessoffice)outsideJapan(hereinafterreferredtoasanoverseasresident)mayundertakeproceduresorinstituteactionagainstmeasurestakenbyarelevantadministrativeagencyinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisActoranorderissuedunderthisAct,exceptthrougharepresentativedomiciledorresidentinJapan,whoisactingforsuchpersoninhandlingmattersrelatedtotheperson'spatent(hereinafterreferredtoasapatentadministrator).(2)Thepatentadministratorshallrep