The following is a detailed list of the Japanese intellectual property documentation held within the British Library IP collection.
Material on this list may only be available in Japanese. We cannot translate items for you.
Intellectual Property stock locations
IP Open Access: Always available in the Business & IP Centre
IP Reserve South: In secure storage, can be delivered to the Centre in typically 1-3 hours
IP Reserve North: In secure storage, can be delivered to the Centre in 48+ hours. If a nine-digit number is shown under "location", these can be ordered for use in the Centre by registered readers through Explore the British Library. Please type the number into the Explore search box to rapidly retrieve the record.
IP Reserve Material cannot be ordered for same-day delivery after 16:00. Sometimes the service may not be available all day on Saturday due to staffing. Some Reserve Material may not be available at times due to stock movements. Please contact us before your visit to check.
Authority
| Title | Holdings | Format | Location |
Patent specifications | |||
| Japanese patent specifications are published as a journal-style "Gazette" rather than as individual documents. From 1971 until 1996 there were separate annual number series for A unexamined and B examined applications which were identical in number format and easily confused. From 1996 the former B examined applications and C granted specifications were replaced by a new series of B granted specifications with continuous numbers. Until 2000 the year number used in the annual numbers was the Japanese regnal year system rather than the CE (Western) year. The reigns relevant to Japanese patents are the Emperor Hirohito's (Showa era), which ran from 1926 (Japanese year 1) to 1989 (Japanese year 64), and the current Emperor Akihito's (Heisei era), which began in 1989 (Japanese year 1). From part-way through 2000 the CE year was used in unexamined application numbers instead of the regnal year. | |||
| Patent Application Gazette (A specs: unexamined applications) | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1994 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| 1971 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268711) | |
| Patent Gazette (B specs: examined applications until 1996, then granted specifications) | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1994 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| 1889 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268713) | |
| Translated PCT applications (T specs) | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1996 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Old granted patent series | 17330 (1909) - 216017 (1956) | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268710) |
| We ceased to receive the old-series Japanese granted specifications in 1956. Granted specs from the period 1956 - 1996 can usually be obtained from the online Patent & Utility Model Gazette (see below) | |||
Patent Databases | |||
| Patent Abstracts Of Japan Online (Searchable English abstracts with status information. From 1994 automatic computer translations of the full unexamined application text into English are available but not searchable) | 1976 - to date | Online | |
| Patent & Utility Model Gazette Online (downloadable patent and utility model application and grant specifications retrievable by known number only) | 1922 - to date | Online | |
| Patent & Utility Model Concordance Online (a pre-1996 Japanese patent may have a pre-publication filing number, an unexamined application number, an examined application number, and a final grant number. If you only know one use this free database to find the others.) | 1922 - to date | Online | |
Abstracts and Indexes | |||
| Patent Abstracts Of Japan (PAJ) | 2011/193728 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1994 - 2011/193727 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| 1976 - 1993 (cumulated and arranged by class) | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| PAJ Foreign Applications | 1989 - 1997 (cumulated and arranged by class) | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North |
| PAJ Section C (chemical) | 1984 - 1994 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| PAJ Section E (electrical) | 1984 - 1994 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| PAJ Section M (mechanical) | 1984 - 1994 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| PAJ Section P (physical) | 1984 - 1994 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| PAJ all sections | 1977 - 1984 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| PAJ Index | 2011/217608 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1994 - 2011/217607 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Patents Gazette for Opposition (English summaries) | 1967 - 1981 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Patent Applications Gazette Index | 1973 - 1977 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Patent Gazette Index | 1970 - 1977 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Patent Classified Index | 1962 - 1966 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Number and Class Lists of Patents | 1901 - 1904 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Index to Patents | 1885 - 1894 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Derwent Japan Patent Abstracts (Section A-M/CH only) | |||
| Unexamined Applications | 1974 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve North |
| Grants | 1961 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve North |
| Derwent World Patents Abstracts (Sections R-X) | 1987 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve North |
| Derwent Japanese Alerting Bulletin | 1996 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve North |
Official Journals | |||
| Patent Office Official Bulletin (POOB) | 1950 - 1974 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Official Announcements | 1969 - 2009 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Document Gazette | 1994 - 2007 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Patent Applications | 1989 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Examination Required Patent Applications | 1971 - 1989 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Patents | 1975 - 1998 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Abandoned Applications for Patents | 1981 - 1997 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Abandoned Applications for Patents, Trade Marks, Etc. | 1977 - 1980 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Special Index | 1952 - 1958 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| JPO Collective Supplement to Official Bulletin | 1953 - 1969 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Japan Industrial Property Journal | 1948 - 1949 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Harris Patent Report (English titles in numerical order) | 1971 - 1972 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Interpas Monthly Patent Data (English unexamined application title lists in alphabetical order) | 1961 - 1969 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
Legal Decisions | |||
| Legal Decisions | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 2000 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| POOB Legal Decisions Relating to Patent Rights | 1950 - 1958, 1963 - 1999 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| 1958 - 1980 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268708) | |
| Legal Decisions on Patent Litigation | 1985 - 1999 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Japan High Court Judgments | 1976 - 1989 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
Miscellaneous Patent Publications | |||
| JPO Annual Report | 2001 - to date | Online | |
| 1906 - 1938, 1957 - 2007 | Paper | IP Reserve South | |
| JPO Statistical Report | 1960 - 1976 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| IPC Concordance South | 3rd edition, 1973, 1995 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Japanese International Patent Classification | 1968 - 1989 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| Editions 5 - 7 | Paper | IP Open Access | |
| Japanese Guide to the IPC | Editions 3 - 4 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| IPC Revision Concordance | 3rd - 4th, 4th - 5th Editions | Paper | IP Open Access |
| Index to the IPC | 2nd - 3rd, 3rd - 4th Editions | Paper | IP Open Access |
| F-Terms (National Patent Classification) | 1968 - 1973 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| Classification Updates | 1970 - 1975 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| Classification of Patents | Valid for 1 - 45570 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Japanese Laws Related to Intellectual Property | 1975 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| Patent and Trade Mark Laws of Japan | 1966, 1970 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| Trade Mark and Utility Model Law | 1959 | Paper | IP Open Access |
| POOB Lists of Commonly Known Techniques | 1986 - 1988 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Lists of Identifications | 1993 - 2004 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Implementing Guidelines Under 1994 Revised Patent Law | Paper | IP Reserve South | |
| POOB Table of Examiners | 1969 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Glossary of Identification Numbers/ Codes for Lawyers and Organisations | Paper | IP Reserve South | |
| JPO Library Catalogue | 1995, 1998 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Holdings In JPO and Provincial Libraries | 1977, 1981, 1983, 1988 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Annotated Catalogue of Official Reports | 1992 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation Ninetieth Anniversary Souvenir (in English) | Paper | IP Reserve South | |
Utility Models | |||
| Unexamined Applications (U Specifications) | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1994 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Utility Model Application Gazette (abstracts only) | 1971 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268714) |
| Examined applications and post-1996 grants (Y specifications) | 3172567 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 1994 - 3172566 (2011) | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Utility Model Gazette (Y specifications) | 1905 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268702) |
| POOB Lists of Utility Model Applications | 1973 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Registered Utility Models | 1969 - 1993 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Abandoned Applications for Utility Models | 1975 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Utility Model Classified Index | 1962 - 1966 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
Trade Marks | |||
| Japanese Trade Mark Database | 1898 - to date | Online | |
| Trade Mark Registrations | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 2000 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Trade Mark Applications | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 2000 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Trade Marks Gazette | 1993 - 1999 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| 1925 - 1992 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268707) | |
| Trade Marks Journal | 1887 - 1924 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268706) |
| POOB Lists of Registered Trade Marks | 1969 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Lists of Abandoned Applications for Trade Marks | 1981 - to date | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| POOB Legal Decisions Relating to Trade Marks | 1981 - 1999 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Renewed Trade Mark Bulletin | 1957 - 1958 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Trade Mark Classification Concordance | 1992 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Trade Mark Law 1974 | Paper | IP Open Access | |
Registered Designs | |||
| Design Gazette Database (searchable by number only) | Current | Online | |
| Design Registrations | 2012 - to date | CD/DVD | IP Open Access |
| 2000 - 2011 | CD/DVD | IP Reserve North | |
| Designs Gazette | 1993 - 1999 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| 1933 - 1944, 1950 - 1992 | Paper | IP Reserve North (015268709) | |
| POOB Legal Decisions Relating to Designs | 1981 - 1999 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Design Classification | 1983 - 1985, 1989, 1998 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
| Japan Design Classification - Locarno Classification Concordance | 1998 | Paper | IP Reserve South |
