Do SPCs (supplementary protection certificates) exist in Japan?
SPCs or supplementary protection certificates are known as “patent term extensions” in Japan. Such patent term extensions can be granted for inventions in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical fields, if permission or approval of governmental institutions is a requirement for commercialisation of the patented invention. If several approvals have to be sought, several patent term extensions can be granted for one patent. The maximum duration of each patent term extension is five years. If this does not answer your question, please specify your request.