Abstract
This article examines Japanese legal position on the scope of research tool patents, focusing on their patentability and enforceability. It also shows that the Japanese patentability position on such reach-through claims is consistent with that of the United States and Europe. As to enforcement, the Supreme Court in Japan and some lower United States District Court decisions appear to take a dim view on the asserted expansive scope of such reach-through patent claims.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.