How do Japanese patent application publications show dates?
Japanese patent application publications use a unique system for indicating dates. According to MPEP 901.05(a): “Japanese patent application publications show the date in Arabic numerals by indicating in order the year of the reign of the Emperor, the month, and the day.” This means that Japanese patent dates are typically formatted as YY.MM.DD, where YY…
Read MoreHow do you convert Japanese patent dates to Western calendar years?
Converting Japanese patent dates to Western calendar years involves a simple calculation based on the year of the Emperor’s reign. The MPEP 901.05(a) provides specific instructions: “To convert the Japanese year of the Emperor to the Western calendar year, for years prior to 1989, add 1925 to the JAPANESE YEAR. For example: 40.3.6 = March…
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