Smart-IP Updates 'appia-engine' to Strengthen Compliance with Patent Attorney Act

Smart-IP, a company dedicated to updating IP industry work styles through digital transformation (DX), has announced an update to its patent workflow support system, 'appia-engine,' to strengthen compliance with the Patent Attorney Act.

This update implements new features to promote appropriate system usage and raise awareness regarding the risks of unlicensed practice, in addition to revising the Terms of Service.

Background

In recent years, the advancement of generative AI has led to its widespread use in drafting patent specifications. However, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) has released opinions stating that drafting specifications using AI by unauthorized individuals could constitute the unauthorized practice of law, highlighting the importance of legal compliance in AI utilization.

At the same time, past regulatory sandboxes have clarified that providing systems that assist AI-based drafting under the supervision of a licensed patent attorney is permissible.

In light of this, Smart-IP has revised its service design to balance convenience with regulatory compliance, implementing new features that include warnings regarding the risks of unlicensed practice.

Key Updates

1. Revision of Terms of Service Grounds for contract termination have been updated to include 'use of this service in ways that violate Article 75 of the Patent Attorney Act (Restrictions on business for those other than patent attorneys or patent attorney corporations).'

2. Warning Feature on Downloads When downloading patent specifications or intermediate documents (opinions, amendments) in Word format, a warning dialog is displayed: 'Please exercise caution when using generated documents to ensure they do not constitute unauthorized practice under Article 75 of the Patent Attorney Act.' This message can be suppressed by entering a Patent Attorney Registration Number, checking the 'Patent Attorney Check' box on the confirmation page, or linking cases with a patent office.

3. Addition of 'Patent Attorney Check' Feature A new 'Patent Attorney Check' item has been added to the confirmation page to explicitly indicate confirmation by a licensed patent attorney. This feature is restricted to users who have registered their Patent Attorney Registration Number, supporting professional involvement in the workflow.

Future Outlook

Smart-IP aims to go beyond simply improving convenience through AI, focusing on establishing a safe IP work environment built on legal compliance to contribute to the sustainable promotion of DX across the industry.